CAMPBELL RIVER — A Campbell River cat spent an 'unpleasant night' away from home, according to a note duct taped to her collar.

Teri and Norman Marshall, who live in the 800 block of Greenwood Street in Campbell River, were shocked and angered to find the handwritten note inside a zip lock bag and taped over their cat's metal identification tag that was engraved with their address and phone number.

The note said, "Your cat has spent an unpleasant night. Please be a responsible pet owner and keep your cat in your own yard. We are tired of having it prowl our deck and we do not like gardening in a litter box. Should it come back we will have to take other measures."

The Marshalls said when the cat returned on Wednesday morning, she was 'clearly traumatized' and 'meowing continually.'

"I think she was trying to tell me the story," said Norman. "She is so scared, and hiding. Usually she is friendly, gentle, loving and curious. You wouldn't know that looking at her today."

The Turkish-Angora named 'Girl-Girl', along with her brother 'Boy-Boy' were adopted by the couple in December. Their yard is treed and fenced, but the cats use the dog door to go in and out.

"What's wrong with calling us and telling us they have a problem with our cat being over there?" said Teri. "There are many cats in this neighbourhood who have gone missing. One of our neighbours found their cat in a trap, lured in by catnip. They heard her crying at three o'clock in the morning and went over there and got her out."

The Marshalls said they called the SPCA and were told people can trap cats on their property and take them to their shelter, where the owners have to pay a fine to pick them up, although Campbell River does not require cats to be licenced.

"The SPCA advertises picking up the feral cats, fixing them, giving them shots and then releasing them back, so it's OK for wild cats to roam free, but not mine who is tagged," said Teri.

The SPCA did not respond to inquiries by press time.

But Bylaw Enforcement Officer Karl Reed told the Courier-Islander that there are no bylaw provisions providing authority to trap cats.

Ted Blyleven with Coastal Animal Control Services agreed.

"There are no bylaws inside or outside the municipality regarding cats and cat trapping," he said. "That is not a very popular method of dealing with cats."

Blyleven suggested that pet owners call the RCMP if this happens to their animals.

"We are contacting bylaw enforcement, the RCMP, and have left a message with the SPCA Cruelty Investigation service," said Teri. "We are not going to let this go. We don't want to find out what the 'other measures' are and we are really upset about what (the person) did to our cat overnight. I totally feel that note meant danger to my cats."

For the time being the Marshalls have locked their dog door and the cats will stay inside. They want any other neighbours in the Greenwood Street area to come forward if their cats have gone missing.

"This is wicked," said Teri. "I get that people's animals can be annoying but that's why we have them tagged. The cat is my responsibility and I totally respect people not wanting it in their yard. But saying she spent an unpleasant evening brings me to sadness."

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