Pets being stolen

[muffin]

This article was posted on a community message board, but I'm sure is relevant for people everywhere. It concerns Fife in Scotland, UK, but I bet it's going on elsewhere. The majority of cats in the UK get freedom to roam outdoors, and rabbits are usually kept outside in a hutch.

Date: Sunday 30th December
WARNING FOR CAT OWNERS

I have produced this ad in the hope that cat owners take heed of this information I recently found out from the Cupar Animal Trust.

We are being urged to keep our cats indoors or risk them being skinned for the fur trade or used as bait for vicious dog fights.

Many cats have gone “missing” recently in the area. This warning has been in local newspapers and radio, however, I want to reiterate the danger to our pets.

There are a large number of cats registered as missing from Dunfermline, Kirkcaldy, Cowdenbeath and surrounding areas. If at all possible, they are advising that you keep your cat as house cats. The Cupar Animal Trust is receiving several reports of multiple cats missing from a single household in a single night.
Please don’t let your cats out of your sight and if you hear any strange noises investigate them immediately. People have had holes cut in their fences and gates broken to get into gardens for the cats and rabbits in both busy and quiet streets and areas. This has included many farms in the middle of nowhere and cats that ‘never venture far’. The prime time they are going missing is if they are at the window or door waiting to get in. Please bring them in right away.
Please be assured that this is a REAL threat to the cats in Fife at the moment with around 60 going missing per month. Although there is no proof to say they are being stolen, there are only usually around 1 or 2 cats that go missing per month. This threat is a constant in the Fife area, however, for some reason which at present is unknown, there is a massive surge in numbers missing.
I am not trying to scaremonger but just be aware of strange people in the neighbourhood. Please make your friends who own cats aware of this threat.

There is more information on this at the Cupar Animal Trust website - www.cuparcats.co.uk

KEEP THEM IN AND KEEP THEM SAFE

[Jess Z]

Why would anyone steal cats or any other animal? That's just wrong.At our county fair that I'm forced to go to some one stole a bunny and a guinea pig from a barn! If that was my cat I would hunt them down! Also, who would skin a cat? Whoever is doing this is sick! I hope that whoever it is, is caught and goes to jail for a long time!

[landhermie]

That's horrible! I hope they catch who is doing it!

[Char-x]

Originally Posted by Jess Z

Why would anyone steal cats or any other animal? That's just wrong.At our county fair that I'm forced to go to some one stole a bunny and a guinea pig from a barn! If that was my cat I would hunt them down! Also, who would skin a cat? Whoever is doing this is sick! I hope that whoever it is, is caught and goes to jail for a long time!

They want to skin them for the fur trade. Dogs and cats are commonly used in fur coats etc especially in China etc. In the UK/USA it's illegal to use these animals for fur HOWEVER it's common for traces of dogs and cats to be found in real fur marked as another animal such as mink/seal etc. Also things marked as fake fur have been found to contain real fur.

Do you mind if I copy this message onto other forums I'm on?

[muffin]

It's not my own original post. It was posted on a public community internet forum, and I have no doubt that the original poster would want as many people as possible to be made aware.

Pets, especially cats and dogs, have been being stolen for the fur trade for some time. It's a sick industry. The animals are usually shipped live to China for example, in crates that are so small it's hard to look at. It's clear that the animals are pets as they have collars and name tags. I don't want to go into too much detail for those who would rather not hear it, but I watched a PETA video of what goes on on a fur farm and, well, stealing pets isn't anywhere near as bad as what happens. I couldn't close my eyes that night without seeing the images again.

By all means, please pass it on. It's about a specific area, but I'm sure applies everywhere. Fur fetches a high price.