A SCHOOLGIRL is devastated that her beloved pet cat is critically ill after being fed cannabis by a stranger.

Wey Valley School pupil Paige Bascombe, 12, from Littlemoor, Weymouth, is hoping that her moggy Fozzy pulls through as he fights for survival at a veterinary hospital Her step-grandad Stan Bethell said that vets believed that the likely cause of Fozzy’s illness was cannabis poisoning. He branded the people who gave the cat cannabis as ‘low-life scum’.

Paige was alarmed when Fozzy stopped eating and refused to move. Vets originally thought Fozzy had a virus but when he collapsed on Saturday morning he was rushed to Healthlands Veterinary Hospital, near Wool.

Paige said: “I was really upset. I’ve had Fozzy since he was a kitten. I can’t believe anyone would want to hurt him. I think whoever did this should have to pay the vet’s bills.”

The family believe someone in the Littlemoor area fed Fozzy the drugs as a prank.

Paige’s grandmother Sue Bascombe of Canberra Crescent, Littlemoor, said: “The vets at the animal hospital made enquiries with a London vet, who specialises in poison, and they believe it was cannabis.

“He definitely wouldn’t have got that in my house.

“We think someone’s fed it to him while he was out.

“The vet said it would take five days to get out of his system but he’s been having fits so we were asked to consider putting him down.”

Sue said yesterday was ‘awful’ for the family as Fozzy’s chances were ‘50/50’ but now he seems to have turned a corner.

She added: “It’s still pretty serious but he’s perked up a little bit and his eyes aren’t as big as they were. He’s also not making the horrible funny noises he was and is trying to miaow like a proper cat.

“We’re hoping for the best.

“Everyone in the family – particularly Paige – is devastated.”

Paige has lived with her grandmother since October when a house-fire at her home in Canberra Road led to her pets being rescued by firefighters.

Shop assistant Sue, 55, said that the family did not have pet insurance and ‘dared not to think about how much the vet’s bill was going to cost’.

She added: “It cost £40 just to take it in on Friday for a little check up and two injections so I dread what it will be. I imagine it will cost quite a lot as Fozzy has been in emergency intensive care since Saturday.”

A spokesman said for Heath-lands Veterinary Hospital said they did not wish to comment.

Sue’s partner Stan Bethell said: “The cat’s been poisoned with cannabis, the poor little mite.

“The low-life scum who did this ought to be strung up.

“I’m so angry that I’m offering a £100 reward for any information, in confidence.”

n Anyone with information is asked by the family to contact the Dorset Echo on 01305 830984.