Call for law change after pet found dead in bin

Rachel Rogers had a "final cuddle" with her cat Elodie after she was found dead in a bin

A woman who helps animals in Plymouth has called for a change in the law after she retrieved a dead cat that had been dumped in a communal bin.

Dawn Lapthorn said she found the cat, which she suspected had been hit by a car, in the Stonehouse area on 1 December.

Owner Rachel Rogers was able to have a "final cuddle" with her cat, called Elodie, as it had an updated microchip.

The RSPCA said it "firmly supported" a change in law so that drivers who hit a cat would legally have to stop and make a report to police.

Rachel Rogers said she felt traumatised by her cat's final hours

Ms Rogers said she felt "traumatised" but was grateful to have been reunited with Elodie and to have closure.

She said had seen the six-year-old tabby the night before and was worried when she did not return when called.

The following day she said she received a text from Ms Lapthorn after the microchip was scanned.

Ms Rogers said: "I felt so sorry for her and so traumatised by her last hours.

"I'm glad Elodie came back to me, and I could have that final cuddle to say goodbye properly."

Elodie, six, had an updated microchip

On 10 June it became compulsory for cats more than 20 weeks old to be microchipped and for details to be kept up to date on a pet microchipping database.

Ms Lapthorn said it was important for her to retrieve Elodie to be able to scan the microchip.

"There's nothing worse than not knowing what has happened to your beloved pet," she said.

"That is the whole point of microchipping, to identify the owner and give them the closure that they need."

'Somebody's pet'

She said people should at least try to take them to the vets or post on local Facebook groups.

Ms Lapthorn added: "There are plenty of people like me who will go out and try and retrieve any animal that we know to be owned and just try and get them home.

"If you see a deceased animal at the side of the road and it is safe for you to stop then try and pick up if you are able to and take to the nearest vets.

"If you are not able to, then please don't just throw it away like a piece of rubbish - because they are not - that is somebody's pet."

'Heartbreaking'

A spokesperson for the RSPCA said drivers should be required to make a police report if they hit a cat.

"The same way they currently do for dogs, pigs, horses, cattle and goats," they said.

"However we would always encourage motorists to stop - if it is safe to do - to see if they can help the cat by taking it to a vet for treatment and to be scanned so owner details can be obtained from a microchip.

"Since 2016, the Highways Agency agreed to scan dogs found dead on roads for microchips and we would like to see the same protection for pet cats as we understand how heartbreaking it is for people to lose a much-loved pet and how important it is for them to find out what has happened to them."