Ann criticises council over cat scanning

MISSING . . . Smokie

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A CAT owner called on Oldham Council to scan micro-chipped cats after she was told by three representatives that the service was not offered.

Concerns were raised by Ann Cooper (59) who is on the hunt for her missing black and white moggie Smokie.

A spokesman confirmed that Oldham Council does scan cats which are killed on the roads of Oldham.

The Chronicle understands that if the cat has been injured in such a way as it is unidentifiable, the council are not always able to scan cats.

News reached Mrs Cooper that a black and white cat had been found in Ashton Road and she began making inquiries to find out if it was her beloved pet.

But Mrs Cooper said she was told on three occasions that the council scans dogs but not cats which left her wondering whether Smokie was dead or alive.

The Doncaster Walk resident said: "Surely they should scan them when they pick them up.

Paying

"My friend asked them the question but they said they only scan dogs.

"I rang Oldham Council last week and got a different person every time who said they didn't have facilities to scan pets but I was told they scanned dogs.

"We are encouraged to have pets micro-chipped so if they are found, be it dead or alive, one way we can get them back.

"We are paying money to scan our pets but who knows how many people have lost cats which may have been taken back to the tip at Morley Street and been incinerated."

The family had micro-chipped and neutered 17-month-old Smokie before he went missing from St Mary's Estate on Thursday, October 27.

They put posters out in the area and contacted charities including the RSPCA and Oldham Lost and Found Cats, in efforts to trace him.

Nurse Mrs Cooper said: "I'm hoping he is still alive. I'm hoping he just got scared and someone has taken him in.

"He is a loving and attentive cat. To us he is part of the family."

An Oldham Council spokesman said: "I can confirm the council scans dogs and cats that are reported and recovered from the road so that any owner can be traced via the microchip and informed.

"The animal is then kept for a period of time to allow contact to be made if the owner can be traced and would like to recover the remains."