The BC SPCA is issuing a warning after a cat was found trapped inside a house in Vancouver that had been boarded up and deserted by its previous tenants. The tabby cat was rescued by an SPCA animal protection officer after a neighbour reported seeing the house abandoned, but heard the cries of the cat they had left behind.
“We understand that there are situations where people can no longer care for their pet and the BC SPCA is always here as a safety net for these animals,” says Marcie Moriarty, chief prevention and enforcement officer for the BC SPCA. “But we also want to remind the public that not only is it cruel to abandon an animal, it is also illegal and punishable under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.”
A person convicted of an offence under the PCA Act could receive a maximum fine of $75 000, up to two years in jail and a ban on owning animals.
SPCA staff have now named the abandoned cat Jenny. “She was confused and scared when she first came in, but she has really bounced back and is such a sweet little tabby,” says Vancouver SPCA Branch manager Jodi Dunlop. “She must wonder what happened to her family, but she is safe now, and is being showered with love and attention.”
In honour of Jenny’s cries for help being heard, staff have set up a page to collect donations for animals like her, whose cries haven’t yet been answered. To donate to Jenny’s page and help animals in need, please visit her page.