The Ottawa Humane Society is asking for help in locating the owners of two cats after an abandoned cat was found dead in Jill Brown Park last week.
On March 27, an area resident told OHS investigators that there was a dead cat, and a second by its side at a west-end park. The deceased cat was alive earlier in the day.
An OHS investigator found both cats under a tree with some dry food nearby. The live cat, a five-year-old brown tabby, would not leave the side of its deceased partner, a five-year-old Calico with declawed front paws. Both cats appeared to be well fed, but neither animal had identification. Shelter staff reported seeing an increase in owners being unable to care for their pets due to financial difficulties.
“It’s a trend we’re noticing more and more,” said OHS spokeswoman Tara Jackson. “Starting in the fall, we had an increase in the number of animals surrendered to us because they couldn’t afford veterinary treatments.”
“These cats were obviously together and were owned at one time,” said Inspector Miriam Smith.
It’s an owner’s responsibly to re-home or surrender an unwanted animal, Jackson said.
“We don’t want to see animals being dumped in parks or ditches or the side of the road,” she said.
Animal abandonment is subject to penalties of up to $10,000 or five years in prison.
Anyone with information about these cats is asked to call the OHS investigations department at 613-725-3166 ext. 224 or e-mail investigations@ottawahumane.ca.
