Cat lover’s sign urges drivers to slow after pet hurt
A VALE resident was so upset after her 13-year-old cat was nearly killed in the road by a driver who failed to stop, that she has put up a sign in her garden asking motorists to slow down.
Anne Lowe’s much-loved pet, Diamond, is very much part of the family and they were devastated recently when they had to rush her to the vet.
Luckily Diamond has made a full recovery following the accident in La Moye Road, by L’Ancresse Common.
The family went to Smith Signs, and within the day they had made her a sign to put up in the front garden.
Mrs Lowe said they wanted to appeal to speeding drivers to slow down and be considerate of animals.
‘The reason I put the sign up was to raise awareness among drivers passing that there are animals crossing and as a loving pet owner I wanted to maybe encourage them to reduce their speed slightly.
‘My cat sadly was hit two weeks ago, the driver didn’t stop, they could have left a letter at any house in this street because we all know each other here, but he or she drove off with no remorse and my cat came home five hours later barely able to walk.
‘We went straight up to Vets4Pets in St Martin’s at 8.30pm to see the emergency vet. They kept her in and did X-rays, and luckily for us she only had tissue damage, but all her claws had been ripped out of her paw and the tyre mark was still on the back of her white back leg.
‘I was so hurt that they didn’t stop just to let someone know. I understand that accidents do happen, I wonder what’s wrong with these people who don’t stop, at least take responsibility for something.’
Following the stress of nearly losing a pet, the Lowe family then had to put up with hate messages after they put up a photo of Diamond on Facebook.
Some people complained that owners should take responsibility for their cats if they go outdoors.
‘To all the people who think that letting a cat out isn’t taking responsibility, seriously they need to get their heads tested,’ said Mrs Lowe.
Guernsey law states currently that if a motorist is involved in a collision with animals such and dogs and horses they must report it to the police.
However, if the animal injured or killed is a cat, motorists are allowed to drive away without reporting it.
Earlier this year the Environment & Infrastructure acknowledged that the legislation could cause severe distress and uncertainty to cat owners.
Plans to change the law and give cats the same protection as other animals have been promised, and are due to come before the States next year.
