Soldato
- Joined
- 6 Aug 2009
- Posts
- 4,504
- Location
- Wales
Hi all,
I have a little situation involving a kitten that we've had now for around 2 months.
But first the back story.
A little over two months ago, my girlfriend's cousin rang her asking if we'd be interested in a kitten, both of us love animals and currently have two dogs and a cat, after talking about it we decided yes.
The kitten was found outside her cousins home, it was only around 6 weeks old and had been attacked by a dog, looked very hungry and was in quite a state.
After taking it in, the cousin and her partner found out that it belonged to a woman across the road, now apparently this woman isn't a responsible owner and has had a quite a few problems in the past with her pets (this is what we've been told by her cousin at least and later confirmed by the police).
So when the woman came around a week later, she's was told by the cousin and partner that they found the kitten, but it was later put down due to it's injuries. ( I know, a silly thing to say but i can at least understand why they said it trying to protect the kitten)
In the two months since we've had the kitten, we've had all it's injections taking care of, an ID chip put in, he's now healthy, happy and gets on great with our other pets, my girlfriend is besotted by him as he's a spitting image of her cat she had as a child.
Last night we had a message off her cousin telling us that the police and RSPCA had been to her house asking about the cat, some how the woman had found out it was alive. she went on to fill us in on the details with the woman owner etc as up until this point, all we knew is that they found a stray kitten that had been attacked, we were told that both the police and RSPCA would arrive to inspect our home, to make sure it's suitable.
Later that night the police turned up at my door with no RSPCA (One police officer and two PCSO's) telling us that they've been to this ladies home, and even though it's in a state (their words not mine) she must have her cat back.
I told them no chance, we have a lovely, clean home where this kitten is more than happy, we've spent money on making sure it's well looked after and this women has no evidence that "indi" is indeed her cat, he has a chip in him that puts us, as the rightful owners.
It confused me as ( i may be wrong here) neither me or my partner have committed a crime as far as i know, making this a civil matter and something the police shouldn't even be involved in?
they tried telling me that if we don't give the cat back, they would come and collect it, at which point i decided enough was enough and showed them out.
I know it's a little long winded guys but i just wanted to give you all the info i could.
My question is, where do me and my partner stand in regards to keeping this kitten?
Am i right in saying no crime has been committed and there for it's a civil matter?
Really don't want to see this kitten go back to a bad home, it would break my girlfriends heart.
Any help/advice at all would be really appreciated guys.
Thanks
David
I have a little situation involving a kitten that we've had now for around 2 months.
But first the back story.
A little over two months ago, my girlfriend's cousin rang her asking if we'd be interested in a kitten, both of us love animals and currently have two dogs and a cat, after talking about it we decided yes.
The kitten was found outside her cousins home, it was only around 6 weeks old and had been attacked by a dog, looked very hungry and was in quite a state.
After taking it in, the cousin and her partner found out that it belonged to a woman across the road, now apparently this woman isn't a responsible owner and has had a quite a few problems in the past with her pets (this is what we've been told by her cousin at least and later confirmed by the police).
So when the woman came around a week later, she's was told by the cousin and partner that they found the kitten, but it was later put down due to it's injuries. ( I know, a silly thing to say but i can at least understand why they said it trying to protect the kitten)
In the two months since we've had the kitten, we've had all it's injections taking care of, an ID chip put in, he's now healthy, happy and gets on great with our other pets, my girlfriend is besotted by him as he's a spitting image of her cat she had as a child.
Last night we had a message off her cousin telling us that the police and RSPCA had been to her house asking about the cat, some how the woman had found out it was alive. she went on to fill us in on the details with the woman owner etc as up until this point, all we knew is that they found a stray kitten that had been attacked, we were told that both the police and RSPCA would arrive to inspect our home, to make sure it's suitable.
Later that night the police turned up at my door with no RSPCA (One police officer and two PCSO's) telling us that they've been to this ladies home, and even though it's in a state (their words not mine) she must have her cat back.
I told them no chance, we have a lovely, clean home where this kitten is more than happy, we've spent money on making sure it's well looked after and this women has no evidence that "indi" is indeed her cat, he has a chip in him that puts us, as the rightful owners.
It confused me as ( i may be wrong here) neither me or my partner have committed a crime as far as i know, making this a civil matter and something the police shouldn't even be involved in?
they tried telling me that if we don't give the cat back, they would come and collect it, at which point i decided enough was enough and showed them out.
I know it's a little long winded guys but i just wanted to give you all the info i could.
My question is, where do me and my partner stand in regards to keeping this kitten?
Am i right in saying no crime has been committed and there for it's a civil matter?
Really don't want to see this kitten go back to a bad home, it would break my girlfriends heart.
Any help/advice at all would be really appreciated guys.
Thanks
David
