Tampines Community Cat Caught In Trap & Placed Near Rubbish Chute Area, Claims Resident
A post by Sayang Our Singapore’s Community Cats detailed a close shave for a community cat, who was allegedly trapped by Tampines Town Council (TC) employees and placed near a rubbish chute on Thursday (14 Nov).
This happened after a resident allegedly complained and asked for the cat to be “taken away”, claims a member of the group.
Here’s her post, you may read the entire post here in full. We summarise the learning lessons after the jump.
Source
Cat trapped by cleaning executives under Town Council
The incident began with a call for help from Tampines residents who stayed near Block 800.
A community cat was allegedly captured by “cleaning executives” employed by the Town Council.
Before a netizen named Rachel arrived, she claims that the cat was “placed in a rubbish chute area” to be collected by “someone” — which presumably meant Animal & Veterinary Service (AVS) personnel.
Community cat placed near rubbish chute
As a representative of the Cat Welfare Society, Rachel claims she tried to check if the cat was a “home or community cat”, but was “denied entry” by the Town Council officer.
Here’s a trigger warning for animal lovers before you watch the video here, as the distressed cries of the cat may be disturbing.
At this point, she described distressed “meowing…from the rubbish chute area”.
Rachel claims that eyewitnesses were afraid that the cat was “in the yellow rubbish mince machine” as it sounded like it was in pain.
CWS volunteer allegedly denied access to check on cat’s well-being
As volunteers attempted to contact Tampines TC, Rachel claims her line was “cut 4 times” before “getting redirected” correctly.
Next, police were informed of the case, and an official Cat Welfare Society (CWS) mediator arrived.
She was allegedly denied entry to check on the “well-being” of the cat too.
Over the phone, the TC officer informed the mediator that “a resident had passed the cat” to cleaning executives.
The police arrived shortly after.
Police intervene but TC officer allegedly changes the story
After the police officers sought to mediate the situation, Rachel claims that the Town Council officer “told a different story”.
This time, the cat was allegedly trapped by the Town Council “because a resident requested to remove it”.
Police asked for the cat to be passed to CWS representatives, as the TC weren’t “following standard protocols regarding cat complaints”.
Tramatised cat was injured from pawing at the trap
Rachel shares that the condition of the cat was poor, when the rescue was successful — it was described as being “under great traumatic stress” and “breathing really hard”.
After being placed in a “smelly rubbish chute area”, the cat also injured itself from “pawing hard” at the “rusty metal cat trap”.
Please contact CWS first for cat complaints
Looking to prevent future incidents, the volunteer pleaded for residents to contact Cat Welfare Society if they face any issues with their community cats.
Here’s what CWS recommends that you do – instead of informing the town council – if you encounter unwanted cats peeing or defecating near your HDB flats.
You may fill up the form here on their website or DM them on Facebook where applicable.
This would be the proper procedure to prevent any unnecessary harm to the animals.
Seeking cat’s owner & possible adopters
In sharing her story, Rachel hopes town council employees will be more familiar with protocols regarding cats, so misunderstandings may be curbed.
Most of all, owners who let their cats roam around the estate, should be wary of the possible consequences.
With the situation resolved, CWS is seeking the owner of the cat – if any – and foster homes or potential adopters.
Do contact the group here on Facebook if you have more information on the situation. We’ve reached out to Tampines Town Council for more details on how things unfolded from their perspective.
Featured image adapted from Facebook.
