Local woman gets purrfect response following fantastic cat campaign

An Ayrshire cat lover is celebrating the recent success of her online petition to have all microchipped cats scanned if they are found on the roads in North and South Ayrshire.

Mandy Lowe started her nationwide campaign following the discovery that, prior to action, councils across the country are within legal rights to collect and dispose of the deceased animals “like rubbish”.

She has even been invited to Westminster to further consider the issue.

Councils are not required by law (as of yet) to scan any domestic animals found by council street cleaning teams on duty. However, 85 local authorities (approximately 89 per cent) already carry out the practice.

Mandy tells us: “In the past people have never had a phone call to notify them so they never know and some search the streets calling for weeks/months. All it would have taken was a phone call to say what had happened.

“I am sure this will make such a difference to those who find themselves in the position of losing a cat on the road and they will have comfort in understanding the truth.”

She also mentions that it is ‘a great concern’ for pet owners to discover that, despite their efforts to have their animals microchipped (the average cost of which, according to mygov.scot, is £10.90) councils are in fact able to get rid of them without attempting to make contact.

A large amount of people who signed the petition reside within the North and South Ayrshire regions, and were visibly annoyed to learn that their councils were not required to scan any cats picked up.

Following long-term discussions with the councils, it was eventually agreed that both would investigate the idea of bringing microchip readers into use.

It is now confirmed that North and South Ayrshire Councils will proceed with the new scheme.

North Ayrshire have already enforced the scheme, which began in November of 2016, with South Ayrshire announcing that they intend to have the readers in use over the next two months, once plans are finalised.

Mandy continues: “This of course is fantastic news and I am sure it puts residents minds at rest that they have a council who listens to their concerns and rightly so.

“When people sign petitions they don’t always realise the impact they can make with their signature, yet now, their council will scan pets and reunite them with their families.”

Whilst her fight with other councils is ongoing, it is Mandy’s intention to have a law passed which makes the scanning of deceased pets compulsory across Scotland and England.

Although there is still work to be done to make all councils recognise the importance of scanning cats found on the roads, Mandy agrees that the future is looking brighter, with councils prepared to make changes.

To view Mandy’s petition, and to view a list of all councils which currently scan deceased pets, visit http://www.thepetitionsite.com/en-gb/takeaction/838/920/673/.