MEDIA RELEASE 20 MAY 2013

Far North District Council Reneges on Promise to Save Cats

Despite the Far North District Council recently issuing an official statement implying it would work with the Cat Coalition to find a solution to the controversial cat feeding shelter debate in Paihia, the shelter was demolished Thursday night by the council.

While saying it would have to uphold the Community Board’s decision to remove the shelter that 86-year-old Betty Chapman and her team have been using to feed 10 stray cats for the past nine years, the council also temporarily appeased compassionate cat-lovers by saying it would allow reasonable time for the volunteers to find an alternative location.

The statement placed the next steps in the hands of the Cat Coalition, which has since been liaising with the Council to reach a compromise. However, the shelter was suddenly removed without warning sometime during Thursday night. Since Thursday night every time Betty and her team leave food for the cats, it is being removed and we don’t know who is responsible for this. Despite Betty and her team’s best efforts the cats are now not getting food.

The position of Betty, the Cat Coalition and many passionate community members is that the cats will face starvation after removal of the food shelter, as they are not able to fend for themselves. The Cat Coalition had proposed the shelter be moved to behind the War Memorial Hall, which is still council land but not on a reserve.

“Betty and the team of elderly volunteers are understandably devastated and are determined to continue feeding the cats in some capacity, as she would actually be breaking the Animal Welfare Act by abandoning them. There are no grounds for the board’s decision and we felt its impact was not given proper consideration,” says John Logie of Bay of Islands SPCA.

Being so familiar with the colony, Betty also immediately identifies any new dumped cats, which she then has de-sexed at no cost to the council and rehomes, so it is important for Paihia’s stray cat population levels that she is also able to maintain that. This will make that much harder.

“As well as this decision being a total act of cruelty which is forcing Betty to abandon these cats, this also raises the issue of trust in our public servants,” continues Logie.

“We, the public, and the media were told the council was considering our proposed remedy and we would be given time to arrive at a compromise, and we are incredibly disappointed that they not only blatantly deceived us but felt the need to do it during a time when neither Betty, or the media, were watching.”

Royal New Zealand SPCA National President Bob Kerridge has described the decision as “one of the most inhumane and irrational decisions ever made by a local authority.”

Royal New Zealand SPCA National President Bob Kerridge who described the original decision as “one of the most inhumane and irrational decisions ever made by a local authority” is disgusted with this latest turn of events. “Whilst reasonable discussions to resolve this matter were underway this council has seen fit to betray the trust placed in them, and heartlessly destroy the only shelter these cats had without any thought to their wellbeing. The public will judge the actions of this irresponsible council with the disdain they deserve”

Have your say at:
www.facebook.com/savebettyscats or
www.facebook.com/farnorthdistrictcouncil

ENDS.

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