Unwanted cat mailed in parcel to animal shelter
Mr Yang, 33, posted his Scottish Fold cat in a sealed cardboard box to an animal shelter because he wanted to get rid of ‘it’. It’s the first time, perhaps in the history of this planet, that somebody has sent an unwanted domestic cat to an animal shelter in a parcel.
Unwanted cat mailed to shelter. Photo: TAIPEI CITY GOVERNMENT ANIMAL PROTECTION OFFICE.
The New Taipei City Animal Protection and Health Inspection Office were able to identify him through the postal service. Subsequently he was fined almost the equivalent of US$2000 for violating the Taiwan Animal Protection Act.
He was fined an additional NT$30,000 (about US$1000) because he had not vaccinated his cat for rabies and therefore was in breach of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Animal Diseases Act.
The director of the animal authority, condemned Yang’s behaviour. He said:
“An animal can suffocate in an insufficiently ventilated container, has no access to water and can become distressed.”
I think that pretty much sums it up. It is remarkable that this man decided to do what he did. I do not believe it would have crossed the minds of anyone else on the planet.
Mr Yang said that he had tried to give his cat away because he had insufficient time to look after it. His cat had a leg injury which had not improved under treatment and therefore had mobility problems.
Other than that we are told that the cat is in good health and may therefore be put up for adoption.
The Scottish Fold as a purebred, pedigree cat. Cat abandonment or relinquishment usually means dumping a cat in woods or by the road or at a shelter at night but not sending the animal in a parcel to a shelter. The chances of the cat being hurt in some way must have been fairly high. The cat was unharmed as it happened.