AR-News: (South Africa)Ugly incident of animal cruelty: cat nearly beaten to death

[Snugglezzz at aol.com]

10/06/2004 11:48 AM - (SA) 
Animal cruelty angers Sepia Street residents 

 
  
An ugly incident of animal cruelty had residents living in Sepia Street, Vermont up in arms last week when a cat was nearly beaten to death with a heavy plank. 

According to the owner of 16 Sepia Street, the cat had ventured into his pigeon den and “caused chaos among his birds”. At first the owner denied having had anything to do with the injuries of the cat and called a neighbour saying he had found the injured animal next to his fence.

However, the owners of the cat, Jacques and Mini Rossouw, who live in the house next door, inspected the area around the pigeon den and discovered the plank covered in blood. A fair amount of hair belonging to the cat was also struck to the end of the 'weapon'. 

When Mini confronted the owner of number 16, he admitted that he had "hit the cat once or twice”.

The veterinary surgeon who treated the animal, said the cat was severely injured. He said the cat, whose left front leg was completely disjointed, had in all probability been held by this paw while being hit. 

According to him the cat was severely concussed and blood was spurting from its nostrils and one eye at the time when the Rossouws arrived at his surgery. 

When the Hermanus Times visited the area with the Rossouws shortly after the incident, no signs of feathers in or around the pigeon den were visible and the owner of the birds had no complaints of either dead or injured birds.

The Rossouws, whose five cats travel with them between Alexander Bay in Namibia and Vermont on a regular basis, say all their cats are so meek and mild that they would easily allow anyone to pick them up. 

The resident at number 16 admitted that he did not have a permit to keep pigeons. 

The tiny wooden structure that serves as pigeon den, is situated between the wall of the garage and the wall built around the house and does not have a cement floor with a drainage pipe.

A municipal official said although new bylaws concerning birds will be in place at the end of June it is illegal to keep birds in a residential area without the necessary permission from the municipality.

According to another resident in the same street the culprit is also in the habit of regularly kicking his own dog.

The owner of the cat has been in touch with the animal welfare and is considering taking legal action against the owner of number 16.