Dog? Or Cat? A pet is a pet
It is devastating to lose any pet. If your cat is allowed out, it is unfortunately more likely that your cat could meet a very devastating and sad end. They roam and explore and extend their territories and sadly they do not know their green cross code. The law says that an accident involving a dog has to be reported to the police. If they had unfortunately met their demise, and the owner had not been present at the accident, the dog would be scanned for an identity chip to advise the owner of the sad news. Naturally the owner would be devastated, but at least they would be able to say goodbye to their faithful friend and make the decision if they would like to take them home to be buried. What though if you are a cat owner/lover? What if your cat met the same fate?
The local refuse collection depot is contacted and the cat is scooped up and dumped in a landfill
My cat Bruce was indenti chipped.
One day Bruce, my beautiful boy, got run over.
No one bothered to report the accident, or take him to a vet to see if he was indenti chipped. Three days of searching, and then I was advised to phone the local refuse collection depot to see if they had picked a cat up. With absolutely no compassion they confirmed that they had indeed picked a cat up (which fitted Bruce’s description) but informed me that they had dumped him in a landfill. I was, of course, distraught that he had met his end, but worse where he had finally ended up. I could not and cannot accept that his little body was just dumped along with empty pizza boxes and beer cans.
I would have wanted my boy back at home, buried and a tree or plant put down on his grave to mark his life. Soppy and sentimental as this may seem, I am sure that I am not alone in my love for my animals. It is irrelevant if they are a cat or a dog they are part of the family - not just an inconvenience on the road that needs disposing of.
If the law is not about to change, then maybe our local refuse collection depots could take the time to phone the local cat’s protection league or vet who will scan the cat and then the owner can be notified. This small action will then at least stop owners searching for their pet hoping that they will return when actually they are lying in a landfill site.