By Victoria Stone-Meadows
The tragic case of a dead cat discovered in Lakeside Park will be remembered by those who found it for a long time.
Tayla Bryant, 26, and sister Maddi, 21, from Beaconsfield were walking their dogs around the lake on Thursday 19 January when they spotted a dark coloured cat floating in the water.
“Ironically, we had been talking to an elderly couple who had their dog about how bad animal cruelty had got recently, the stories about it all over the news,” Tayla Bryant said.
The sisters had only taken a few steps away from the conversation when they saw what they first thought was the head of a mannequin floating in the water.
“We got closer and realised it was a cat that had nude stockings it had been strangled with wrapped around it; it was awful.”
“I was in disbelief but we walked a bit closer because I thought maybe it had got tangled but we realised it was definitely dead and had been strangled.”
“We didn’t want to keep looking; it was horrific.”
In tears over what they had seen, the sisters contacted Cardinia Council, the RSPCA and the Pakenham Police about the cat.
Senior Investigator for Animal Cruelty Hotline Barrie Tapp went to the lake to investigate but couldn’t locate the dead animal.
Animal control officers from Cardinia Council did find the dead cat, but were unable to find a microchip to identify where the cat had come from.
“The officer scanned the cat for a microchip but could not locate one and there were conditions suggesting the cat may have been the victim of animal cruelty,” Council’s Manager Development and Compliance Services Debbie Tyson said.
“Animal cruelty matters are dealt with pursuant to the Prevention of Animal Cruelty Act (POCTA), which is investigated and enforced by the RSPCA.”
“Council strongly encourages anyone with information pertaining to this matter to contact the RSPCA immediately.”
Mr Tapp said charges for animal cruelty are very serious and urges anyone who knows about this incident to call the animal cruelty hotline.
“If caught, charges of cruelty carry fines of $70,000 or jail,” he said.
“We appeal to anyone that knows anything to call 1800751770 and submit and anonymous report.”
