RESIDENTS OF THE Richmond Road area of Dublin fear that cats are being killed by food laced with poison.

To date, seven cats have died and a further six are missing and presumed dead.

Claire Healey, who lives on the road, told TheJournal.ie that seven cats so far have died from suspected poisoning.

“The law around this is ridiculous,” said Healey, who fears someone tried to take the colony into their own hands and “make animals die in what is the most atrocious manner”.

“The people in the area are absolutely devastated,” said Healey. “I don’t think I’ve ever cried so hard.”

Autopsy

She said that an autopsy on one of the cats confirmed that they had ingested a specific poison, while it was suspected a further two cats she brought in had also eaten the poison.

They had signs that their kidneys had shut down, which was consistent with a certain type of poisoning, she said.

Healey said that she called the DSPCA, who visited the area, but that unless residents know where the poison source is, or suspect a person in the neighbourhood of poisoning the cats, at this point there is little they can do.

No poisoned food has been found to date, although the locals have been searching for it, said Healey.

She plans on sending letters to local homes to ask if people have information on the situation.

Feral cats

The cats live in a colony, and the occupants of four homes on the street have been caring for them, said Healey.

She said that since she moved to the area over a year ago, she has been getting the cats neutered and also helping adopt out kittens.

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