Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Mum wants law change after cat’s road death
A WOMAN is calling for a change in the law over how cats being hit by cars are reported, after her son’s beloved pet was mown down outside their home.
Stephanie Hewett, 36, from Ambleside Terrace in Kirkton, lost her one-year-old cat Oscar after he was run over and left in the road.
She said the accident, on November 25, has left herself, her seven-year-old son Leyton and even her two surviving cats grief-stricken.
Stephanie said: “What we found was horrific. We had to get help with things we could say to Leyton, and how to get through the process to help him let go.
“He went to sleep with Oscar each night. We held a funeral to have closure. We had to take our other two cats to the vet, because they seemed upset too.”
CCTV footage taken from a neighbouring home showed Oscar running into the road just as a car was driving past. After striking Oscar, the vehicle continued moving, leaving the cat lying on the tarmac. A few minutes later, another car drove past the animal, stopped for a moment and then drove on.
A third car then pulled out of a drive and over the cat’s body before driving off.
Stephanie said the worst part was not knowing if anything could have been done to save Oscar until a Scottish SPCA investigation concluded there was not.
Currently it is a legal requirement to stop and report hitting a dog, goat, horse, cattle, donkey, mule, sheep or pig.
Drivers are not required to report hitting a cat or any other animal.
Mum-of-two Stephanie said she wanted to see a change in the l aw that gave cats the same rights as other animals such as dogs and cattle. She said: “I don’t want someone to go through the ‘what-if’s’ like we did.
“If we can save one cat then Oscar, below, will not have died needlessly.”
Mandy Lowe, co-founder of Cats Matter, a campaign group looking to challenge UK laws surrounding cats’ welfare, said: “We want to change the law so that cats have similar rights.
“If the law is changed, the cat’s chances of survival will be higher and owners will get closure.”
A Scottish SPCA spokesman said: “The Scottish SPCA can assist if the animal is injured and will be able to scan for any microchips.”