Viral post triggers warning from vets

Luna, unlike many other pets, was not phased by last night's fireworks. Photo: Sam Gardner.

An image circulating on social media of an animal alleged to have been injured by fireworks, has Tauranga vets warning people not to jump to conclusions.

The image, which has been shared across social media overnight, shows a cat with a ‘giant slash' across its face, believed to have been caused by a firework.

'He's wandering in the Brookfield and Otumoetai area around Regent Street, The Drive and Upland Street,” reads the post.

However Tauranga Vet Care director and vet surgeon Nick Sygrove says the injury is unlikely to have been caused by fireworks.

'It looks like an old injury to me, most likely a burst cat bite abscess rather than from a firework I would think. It still could be without seeing the cat but I personally doubt it.”

He says anyone who spots the animal, or others in a similar condition should trap it and visit a nearby vet clinic.

'This is if they can get hold of it. It sounds wary of people so could be a stray but any clinic should scan for a microchip first and foremost to see if it does indeed have a family.”

Meanwhile, fireworks is being put down as the cause of a fire in Papamoa East.

The Papamoa Volunteer Fire Brigade were called to the fire at the reserve opposite Gibson Place, at 7.18pm.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand shift manager Megan Ruru says it took the crew about an hour to put the blaze out.

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