CHENNAI: We’re not sure whether cat catchers get it cheaper by the dozen. But for 12 cats who were rescued from narikuruvas on Tuesday, it was a costly jaunt around Tondiarpet on Tuesday afternoon.
Four narikuruvas (gypsies) were hired to clear the wandering stray cats around the Graha Lakshmi apartments in this locality, according to members of The Blue Cross of India that reached the spot just in time, after a tip off. The gypsies had been called by residents of the apartment complex, as told to the team of volunteers who went for the rescue.
“I found four gunny bags full of cats, including two kittens,” said Dawn Williams, General Manager, BCI. What was even more appalling for this animal activist was that one of the four gypsies hired for the job was a child. “He looked about 11 years old!” added a senior Williams, who in all his years of catching ‘cat killers’ rarely comes across recruits for the job so young.
As for the felines who were speedily rescued from the gunny bags, gasping for breath, dehydrated and famished - all are now alive and well at the Blue Cross’ shelter in Velachery. “We did have a scare with one cat was very sick and unable to move,” recalls a volunteer. But a veterinarian at the shelter pulled off resuscitation and a timely drip, so the kitty is now on the road to recovery.
A police complaint has been filed against the narikuruvas on grounds of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, IPC Sections 428 and 429 as well the Juvenile Justice Act at the nearby H4 New Washermenpet police station.