According to The Japan Times, around 100 dead cats have been found in the squalid home of a woman in Kumamoto, Japan, who was a staff member of an animal welfare group, a local official said on Wednesday (4 June).
The group, Animal Assist Senju, issued a public apology on social media, posting photos of the trash-strewn residence, which it said was “overflowing with faeces and urine.”
The property belonged to one of the group’s staffers — Miyata, who reportedly acted without the organisation’s knowledge and took in numerous cats on her own.
In the post, the group reported receiving a letter from a woman whose cat died while in their care.
The woman recounted that her family decided to find a new home for their four cats, adopted by her mother, who had passed away.
Source: Asahi
She said she had been promised regular updates with photos, but there was no written agreement.
However, after handling the cats, the family never received any photos. Growing suspicious, she asked for the cats back, but was told that one of the cats was found to have kidney issues at the vet, and that Ms Miyata would look after them herself.
Following several requests, the caretaker eventually agreed to return the cats to the woman. However, on the day she was supposed to collect them, she learned that one of her cats had died.
Upon collecting the body, she discovered that part of its skin was peeled off, and its body was covered in its own waste. It was in terrible condition. She also mentioned that the house was filled with trash, and other cats were found dead inside.
Source: @animal_assist_senju on Instagram
She expressed regret for relying on the organisation without checking the actual conditions.
Because of Ms Miyata’s negligent handling of the animals, the woman insisted that she should never be involved with any living animals again.
Source: @animal_assist_senju on Instagram
Kumamoto City’s animal protection centre said on Wednesday (4 June) that the number of dead cats was initially estimated to be around 100, although media reports suggest the actual figure could be higher.
In another post, Animal Assist Senju, said Ms Miyata was under investigation and is no longer permitted to care for cats.
Also, the group itself will stop accepting animals, including adult cats or kittens, for care or adoption.
“All the members of our group take what happened very seriously,” the organisation wrote in another post. “We can only imagine the agonising pain the cats went through before dying.”
Officials and volunteers visited the home twice last week after a tip-off about a cat’s death. A full-scale rescue operation was later launched.
Source: The Japan Times
It remains unclear whether legal action will be taken against the woman.
Twelve live cats have been rescued so far, says Tsutomu Takimoto from the city’s animal protection centre.
Also read: ‘Appalling cruelty’: Shanmugam condemns gruesome killing of community cat in Yishun
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Featured image adapted from Asahi and @animal_assist_senju on Instagram.