Editor: We have a problem in Lake Cowichan.
I became aware of this problem when a neighbour went out of his way to have my cats taken. It all started back in June, when a nearby resident threatened that he would get my cats taken if I didn't keep them off his property. I agreed that cats can be bothersome and I would clean whatever poop they dropped, if any. I also told him that other cats would frequent his house. Many cats have been seen around his home.
I told him to calm down. He did not. He kept threatening the disposal of my cats. I told him he would regret it if any harm comes to my cats.
At this time, one of our other neighbour's cats was rat poisoned, and died as a result. Another neighbour had his cat found dead by two young girls playing in the empty lot.
In August, my cat Bailey went missing.
I am a person who tries to think positive and didn't phone the Lake Cowichan Animal Rescue for a week.
My wife called and was given no hope, but left a description of Bailey.
Later, she called the SPCA and everyone she could find in the telephone book, asking if Bailey had been dropped off.
We searched day and night with no luck. When the sixth week went by, Bailey's birth mother disappeared.
Her name was Meeko. This is when I began phone calling in ernest.
As it turns out, Bailey had been captured and brought to a veterinarian, as per protocol.
The vet determined Bailey was a family pet, and was released in front of my angry neighbour's house.
He was not the person to contact or do such things. I question this also, because Bailey would have ran straight home.
I talked to another neighbour who told me a story of the time, 10 years ago, when he was over-run with cats. The aforementioned neighbour offered to dispose of them, and did so.
Now I ask you, the reader, what in the name of trust do I do?
This, of course, is not exact proof of anything, but what am I to do? We lost two great family members. My wife has cried many times. My daughter, who grew up with them, is heart sick.
It appears as though a neighbour went over the edge, and is the source of pain. My neighbours are in fear for their cats.
Did the culprit have a bad child life? Who knows. I just wish all those involved would come clean to ease our pain. The culprit needs counselling and anger management, at least.
I cannot say I'm okay with Lake Cowichan Animal Rescue. There is definitely room for improvement. They are not directly responsible, but they should have written down our first phone call. We informed them our Bailey was missing, and they did not put it together with the time frame. I am perplexed.
Things do not add up. We phoned in August and they didn't give me or my wife any information until I talked to them about my second cat going missing.
This is very mysterious.
Animal rescue is not to blame, but I am concerned they aren't capable of handling this situation.
Mike Foolkes
Lake Cowichan
Editor’s note: Since this letter was written, the Lake Cowichan Animal Rescue Society called Foolkes to inform him that Meeko had been found by the Cowichan River, and will be returned to the family shortly.