A CAMPAIGN to warn air gun owners they have seven months to get a license or face jail has been launched.

An amnesty for unwanted weapons will take place later this month before the licensing period begins in July.

Owners have until December 31 to obtain a certificate otherwise they will be in breach of the law and face a maximum penalty of two years jail.

READ MORE: Air guns must be licensed by end of year

A woman whose cat lost a leg following a shooting has backed the law and hit out at people who shoot at animals for fun.

Elaine Boyle, 50 of Renfrew, said she was devastated when her cat Fizz lost a leg after it was shot with an air gun pellet.

She said: “Air weapons in the hands of those who misuse them can cause absolute devastation to families like ours who have had innocent pets maimed or even killed.”

The cat’s thigh bone was shattered in the shooting close to Ms Boyle’s home in 2014

The Scottish Government and animal charity SSPCA are working together to inform people of the new law and its implications for air gun owners.

They want to highlight the amnesty period between May 23 and June 12 when weapons can be surrendered at a local police station.

READ MORE: Air guns must be licensed by end of year

The SSPCA backed the new law and warned shooting at pets with air guns is unacceptable.

Mike Flynn, SSPCA chief superintendent, said: “It is appalling that animals like Fizz are being targeted and caused such pain and suffering.

“This is a major step forward for animal welfare in Scotland and sends out a strong message that mindless acts of violence using air weapons will not be tolerated.”

He said the SSPCA gets around 100 reports of airgun incidents every year and warned the reality is much worse as many bodies of shot animals are never found.

He added: “Disturbingly, some people seem to think it is fun to maim and kill defenceless animals with air weapons and this is completely unacceptable in a modern, civilised society.”

The Air weapon and Licensing Act was eventually brought in after calls to crackdown on air guns after two year old Andrew Morton was shot and killed by an air gun in Easterhouse in 2005.

Mark Bonini, then aged 27 was jailed for life, with a recommendation he serve at least 13 years for the boy’s murder.

READ MORE: Air guns must be licensed by end of year

Andrew’s mother Sharon McMillan had campaigned for a change in the law for years following her son’s killing.