In a strange and unpleasant story, someone has kidnapped a cat and refuses to return it. From the New York Post:
The sinister tale dates back to Feb. 21, when the couple came home from a vacation and realized Penelope was gone."There had been some workers in the apartment, so we thought she had just gotten out," DePasquale said. "The next day, we started putting up fliers."
They began scouring the building for the black cat and even offered a $1,000 reward. When no one came forward after a week, DePasquale started knocking on doors around their first-floor apartment.
The next day, the terse typewritten note appeared, slipped under their door.
"Blackie is safe and warm with me and my family of 3 kitties. She has instantly bonded with our autistic child, and I cannot think of separating them. The reward is of no comparison to the amount of love and joy she brings to my daughter's heart. I know this will not assuage your grief, but know she is well looked after, loved and always will be. Regards, MN."
Realizing a cat burglar was in their midst, the couple called police. Detectives soon learned that only three of the 222 apartments at 410 W. 53rd St. housed children — one developmentally disabled.
But none of them had the cat.
I wonder if "MN" realizes that most people consider their pets to be as much a part of their life as a child. To my mind, "MN" is a terrible and evil person and I hope she only has misery in her life. She could easily have gotten a loving cat or dog at any animal shelter.
Many people ask why we go to the trouble and expense of boarding our cats even if we are gone overnight. This is one reason. This sort of thing happens all the time. Its being glorified as "pet rescue" when its old fashined stealing and no one should condone it. I know my cats are safe and cared for and supervised. Should there be a problem there is a responsible party.
Is this not the most disgusting thing? Everyone, have you animals chipped, dogs, cats, bunnies, horses,(over 100 "horse nappings" occur each year!) even birds and rodent creatures can be chipped and it works! Every vet should get a wand from AVID (the chip people, and they send it FREE) and wand each pet that comes in. My vet here does that and if the critter is pre chipped, he wants to see the papers that you get with the chip or the animal is assumed stolen. There is a lot of Dog thevery here particularly, for hunting purposes...Police are called, as is the HSPCA and AVID. Pets and owners are reunited. It works.
Posted by: Hokulea at March 20, 2005 08:10 PM