Cat dumped in taped bag and left to perish

AN eight-year-old girl has been left traumatized after her much-loved pet cat was discovered dumped in a taped bag in Macfin.

It is believed Cookie was trapped for over five days in the bag after going missing from the Glebe estate last Thursday (September 2).

Little Alyssia Gibson from The Crescent, Ballymoney searched everywhere for the year and half old feline, but feared the worst after she never returned.

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Alyssia's mum, Jo, who is a classroom assistant at Ballymoney Model Primary School explained: "Cookie is a house cat and doesn't wonder away, but on Thursday, September 2 I came home and called her and she never appeared. We put an appeal in the Ballymoney Times last week appealing for people to come forward with any information as to Cookie's whereabouts, however we never heard anything.

"I also contacted the local vets on the Friday reporting her missing and leaving them a description, we also search everywhere and knocked on doors to see if anyone had seen her.

"My daughter Alyssia was totally devastated and upset that Cookie had disappeared. We have had her and her sister Crystal since they were eight week old kittens and they've never gone missing before."

However last Tuesday the Gibson family received a call from their vet telling them that a man had brought in a cat that had been found and it fitted Cookie's description.

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Jo continued: "The vet said the cat was black and white with a red collar and a bell - that was the same as Cookie. So I phoned the man's number and arranged to see the cat. When we got there we were horrified at the state Cookie was in - she was stick thin and her beautiful coat was in bits, her white fur was now yellow with stains from urine and dirt.

"The man informed me that while he was out berry picking he heard a sound coming from a hedge along the road that passes the back of leslie hill farm, near one of the no dumping signs. And while investigating he saw a bag taped up and inside was my daughters cat. It looks like Cookie was dumped there and left to perish."

Cookie has since returned home however is still in a very critical condition.

Jo added: "The vet said she's physically ok and should make a full recovery but I believe it's her mental state that has been seriously affected. She's not the playful cat she was. Her legs aren't working very well - which is probably down to the fact that she was lying in a hunched position for five days. She's not eating well, sleeps all the time and is very nervous. She was once a loving friendly family pet but now she doesn't like being picked up and doesn't even lift her head - she's destroyed.

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"It's just totally disgusting what these people have done to this poor defenceless animal - they should be ashamed of themselves. Cookie never did anything to them. My daughter is in bits and totally traumatized, how do you explain to an eight-year-old what happened and why people would do this?"

Ballymoney PSNI has been informed of the incident and are appealing for witnesses to come forward.

A spokesperson confirmed: "Cruelty to animals is a criminal offence and where evidence is available it will be forwarded to the Public Prosecution Service with a view to bringing the person(s) responsible before a Court.

"Police are investigating this incident and would appeal to anyone with useful information to contact them at Ballymoney PSNI Station or by telephone on 0845 6008000. Alternatively contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555111. "