CHIEFS at Malvern Hills District Council have confirmed they are investing in microchip readers to identify the owners of deceased pets which are found across the area.
The news comes after campaign group CatsMatter approached the authority to prevent domestic animals found at the roadside from being dumped at landfill sites.
CatsMatter, which aims to challenge the laws surrounding cat deaths on Britain’s roads, said that a cats final journey should be ‘going home to its owners and not a dump’.
And district councillors have responded by investing in the technology which is expected to be rolled out once it arrives.
Coun Bronwen Behan, portfolio holder for the environment at Malvern Hills District Council, said: “We recognise that many of these animals may have been well-loved pets so it is important that we establish ownership where possible.
“Deceased pets will be taken back to our depot where they will be kept for a short period to allow owners to collect them if they wish.”
CatsMatter first approached Malvern Hills District Council last year after finding out the authority was the only one in Worcestershire which did not scan deceased animals.
But talks with district council bosses broke down.
However, a ‘last-ditch’ approach this year was welcomed by the authority.
Mandy Lowe, co-founder of CatsMatter, said: “Expecting the previous wall of silence or disinterest, we were pleasantly surprised by the response.
“Malvern Hills councillors were pleased we had once again raised this issue with them and brought attention to the fact that they was the only district council in Worcestershire which did not possess microchip readers.
“We are extremely pleased that Malvern Hills District Council has finally saw sense.
“Investing in the scanners will give residents the closure they rightly deserve should the worst ever happen.”
CatsMatter is also running an online petition to ensure all councils across the country scan, record and notify owners of cat deaths collected from roads.
The group aims to reach 100,000 signatures.
So far more than 56,000 have people have pledged their support.
To sign the petition visit http://bit.ly/2zvCl0H.
