Who blames the cats on Rue des Tulipes? In this small cul-de-sac in the Aspé district, seven cats have been found dead since the beginning of October. The idea of intentional poisoning is supported by local residents who today oscillate between anger, sadness and fear.
“On October 1, at 2:30 a.m., a neighbor woke us up to warn us that our cat was in bad shape on the sidewalk. We immediately went to meet him, he was convulsing and drooling and we couldn’t do anything. Our veterinarian confirmed to us that it was poisoning.testifies Romain Ceresero. He was one of our two Maine coons and the first cat to die in the neighborhood. We filed a complaint but it wasn’t long before other cats suffered the same fate. The latest victim is our second Maine coon, found dead on December 9..
“Suspicions but no proof”
Did suspicion fall on potential animal enemies? “I already had an altercation with a street resident who accused me of making too much noise during the day, due to my professional activity. Is this the person who wanted revenge? Other residents suspect another neighbor but in all cases we have no proof.”laments the young man who calls for the arrest of the person responsible for these acts of cruelty… Before a vendetta is organized in this residential area.
At the other end of the street, Séverine Merle saw the three stray cats she was feeding die one after the other. “The first and the second died consecutively, on October 3 and 5. I had put up posters to report their disappearance before the neighbors discovered them. One with drooling at the lips and the other, later , in an advanced state of decomposition In the meantime, the corpse of the last cat I took care of was found half devoured by wild animals and two other residents also found their dead cat.she says with difficulty. I loved these kitties like my own animals. My husband and I were considering leaving the region but I refused so as not to abandon my cats. Now I’m afraid because I also have a small dog and when we take him out at night, we can’t see any poisonous meatballs that would pass under his nose and another small dog also almost died from poisoning in the street.”
Up to 5 years in prison and 75,000e fine
Interviewed by the police, Séverine Merle also spoke of her suspicions towards one of the local residents… And her lack of proof.
For his part, the national police investigator, “animal mistreatment” referent and responsible for this case, regrets not having received “only two complaints despite the testimonies, particularly on the networks, mentioning the death of seven animals”. Thus inviting victims who have not yet come forward to file a complaint. Because for the moment, in the absence of denunciation of all possible offenses, the officer must take the scale of the phenomenon with caution.
However, “An investigation is underway and we take this matter very seriouslyunderlines the lieutenant who recalls: Perpetrators of acts of cruelty towards a domestic or tame wild animal leading to the death of the animal face up to 5 years in prison and a fine of €75,000.”
