They Call It “Fun.” 10,000 People Call It Animal Cruelty. Sign Our Petition

10,000 signatures in four days.

4,000 in the past day alone.

The response to our latest petition calling for regulation around the carrying of catapults in public has been absolutely astounding - and deeply heartening.

The numbers speak for themselves. People care. People are waking up to this growing wave of violence against animals, and they’re sick of seeing the culprits walk away without consequence. Sick of seeing them proudly broadcast their cruelty on social media.

All day, as our team watched the numbers climb higher and higher, I kept thinking about the animals we’ve tried to save after they’ve suffered sickening injuries from being shot.

When they’re hurt, wild animals often retreat and hide away. Those that once trusted people - ducks and geese used to eating out of kid's hands in parks - seem to know better now. It makes them so much more difficult for us rescuers to catch and treat. So sometimes, we end up just watching them suffer, unable to help.

One case that haunts me is a mallard in Orpington. His lower bill had been smashed by a catapult and was hanging off. We tried everything to catch him, but he could still fly and kept evading rescue. He must have been terrified, in agony, unable to eat or drink. Imagine that: one moment swimming peacefully, the next struck by searing pain that changes everything.

A few days later, his body was found floating in the water. His death was not quick. Locals had already reported hundreds of similar attacks to the police over the years. They were exhausted, watching the same cruelty unfold again and again, and seeing nothing done about it.

If someone were inflicting these same injuries with a hammer, would anyone be questioning why we're speaking up about this? Why should it be any different because the weapon is a catapult?

It’s not sport. It’s not pest control. It’s not for food.

It’s for fun. It’s for clicks and TikTok likes. And it has no place in a decent, humane society.

We’ve reached 10,000 signatures, and that’s incredible. But it’s not enough. Every name, every share, every conversation brings us closer to real change.

Next stop: 50,000.

Keep signing. Keep sharing. And when you do - think of that duck.. and the countless others like him.