Fate of cat

Press, 22 December 1987, Page 12

Fate of cat

Sir, —I would like to say how much I was upset by the action of the City Council street cleaners after my cat, which I had searched for in my area for a week, was run over. After having gone to every possible length to try to trace him, I finally telephoned the street cleaning department. I asked if they had seen him on their rounds, and told them that the cat was wearing a collar with the name "Rusty,” and had my phone number on it. The man who answered, remembered him and told me it had been thrown on the truck. I was shattered to hear that. I know cats often get run over, but in this case, with

identification visible, I think they could have taken the trouble to advise me. Then Rusty would have had a decent burial. — Yours, etc., KARYN WILSON. November 30, 1987.

[The Town Clerk, Mr J. H. Gray, replies: “When council staff remove dead animals from the road it is generally done in response to advice received from members of the public. A quick service is provided because the sight of a dead animal lying on the road, especially a household pet, can be upsetting to many people. In the normal course of events it is not practical for the staff involved to attempt to trace the owner. However, in this case, as identification was visible, contact should have been made. I apologise for the insensitive manner in which this case was handled.”]