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Safe now with Katie and JadePullen. |
RSPCA SLAMMED FOR REFUSING TO RESCUE STRAY CAT(cutting Bexley Heath News by John Higginson Sept 8th 2001) |
THE RSPCA has been slammed for saying a distressed cat trapped in a garage could be left at least 24 hours before they would help.
Sharon Shepherd, 35, of Allsaints Road, Northfleet, called the RSPCA when she heard the cat's cries coming from a garage which backs onto her garden
The RSPCA told her they would call her back but did not. When Miss Shepherd called a second time they told her the cat would have to stay there until the next day.
She said: "I phoned the RSPCA who told me they would not come until tomorrow, but it was sweltering and the cat was in distress. "They had no idea how long it had been there, it could have died."
Fellow Allsaints Road resident Jeff Jones said: "We could not just leave him, there was no way of getting hold of the owner of the garage to let the cat out." A spokesman for the RSPCA said: "We only have one duty officer and she was busy dealing with more important calls. "The cat was still meowing so it was not going to die." But the Allsaints Road residents were not prepared to leave the cat trapped for such a long time and called the Fire Brigade. When firefighters opened the garage they found Felix, a stray cat which is a regular visitor to many of the residents of Allsaints Road.
Felix is now being looked after by Katie Pullen, 13, and Jade Pullen, nine, who have fed him in the past and have now decided to adopt him./cutting ends