The story takes place in Hong Kong (HK). Hong Kong was transferred to China on 1 July 1997. The cat’s name is Flora. The date is 15th November 2009 so it is not news but it is worth reminding us of the darker attitudes of some people towards cats. Flora is (or was because I don’t know if she is still alive) a colony cat in Tsim Sha Tsui (see map below). Colony cats are essentially feral cats but semi-domesticated because they are looked after by kind people. Trap-neuter-return is often carried out by these considerate people. Others consider them crazy!
Whenever there are kind people looking after homeless ‘community cats’ or ‘colony cats’ there are an equal number of unkind people who dislike (and sometimes hate) both the cats and the people feeding them in equal measure.
Flora had been looked after for months in the cat colony. On the date mentioned she was found on a construction site in Hou Fok street by her carer. Her left eye had been stabbed by a sharp object – perhaps a tool used by a construction worker. We are not told what the instrument was but it was found. Wouldn’t this have been excellent evidence to catch the perpetrator? Perhaps there were finger prints on it? If there were finger prints it would have been good evidence but in Hong Kong you need a witness (I presume that means someone who actually saw the attack and is willing to give evidence).
The director of Hong Kong Refuge said:
“Most of the time, the police is not interested in the case of animals abuse.”
There lies the major problem in trying to curb animal abuse of this nature. If the police don’t want to enforce the law, the law is almost useless. It could be argued that unenforced law is worse than useless because criminals know it is impotent because the police are uninterested in enforcing it. This encourages abuse. People in Hong Kong who care about cat welfare don’t bother to report animal abuse crimes anymore. This is sad because it also unintentionally fosters animal abuse.
Flora only comes out at night now because she had been abused before. A construction worker (another one or the same person?) kicking Flora while she was pregnant. Can you believe the evil in that person’s mind?
Source: HK Animal Speak
amen
I feel the same way. It is shocking ignorant some Chinese are of animal welfare. I think the USA trade talks should have included the total lack of animal welfare laws in China to force them to change their ways.
Thank you Rashmi. Well said.
Dude – you can’t allow out of control feral populations to continue to breed so more cats will suffer. You sound like a nutcase. I would rather feral animals be spayed and neutered, it is more compassionate. I don’t want the animals to suffer.
I just know chinese people are not particular known for their ompassion towards animals. As for the shitty bastards who promote animal cruelty I just have a few words for you: BURN IN HELL!
I am surprised that you are against sterilising feral cats. It is a sign of failure, yes. It is failure of humans because we created feral cats. But as a poor compromise TNR is the best solution otherwise there’d be too many feral cats and some idiots will be hurting them or local government will make an order to kill them. What’s best?