Durban cat man heartbroken over loss of his beloved Blackie

NEIL FRIEDMAN, who is well known in Durban for his love and dedication in feeding and caring for the animals at the former Snake Park site on the beachfront over a number of years, expressed his shock and disbelief after one of his beloved pet cats was euthanased at the Durban and Coast SPCA earlier this month.

Speaking to Berea Mail, Friedman, who has taken it upon himself to care for and feed the mongoose, cats and monkeys that still inhabit the bush at the former Snake Park site, said he was heartbroken by the fact that his cat Blackie, who he had brought up from a year old, had been put to sleep.

“Blackie and his brother, Smidgin were born near Mini Town in 2000 and movee on from there to the bush by the old Snake Park. I discovered them in the bush and by that time, Blackie had injured his foot, but it had healed and there was nothing more I could do. He was always thin but he was a survivor. I started feeding them in the bush along with the mongoose. His paw never held him back and he was an inspiration,” he said.

Neil said people knew he had cared for and fed Blackie, Smidgin and their uncle Jake for the past 16 years, and that they were friendly cats. He said many people would approach them and feed them. “Blackie was frail-looking and people were worried about him, but he wasn’t sick, the cats all go for regular checkups at the vet,” he said.

However, on Tuesday 4 July he received a call to say the SPCA inspector had arrived to take Blackie away as they had received a call saying he wasn’t in a good condition. Neil said he told them the cat was fine and was well looked after, and was given a summons to take him to the vet.

“I was told I needed a certificate from the vet, which I had to take to the SPCA in 24 hours, which I did. I asked them if anyone called about Blackie again, to please say they knew about him and that the cat had received a good bill of health. They gave their assurance that they would,” he said.

He also put up a notice on the fence where he feeds his cats saying if anyone was concerned, they could contact him.

Neil said Blackie and Smidgin had lain in his lap the next Thursday evening as they always did when he went after work to spend time with them. The next day he received a call to say Blackie was gone.

“I couldn’t find Blackie anywhere and a man I know went to the SPCA to see if they had him there. They said they didn’t have Blackie, so I climbed in the bush and went crazy for four days until the SPCA called and admitted that they had put him to sleep. They said he had looked dehydrated and emaciated and they had decided to put him down. I had done everything they had asked, I still can’t believe they could do it. There’s no excuse for this, the SPCA knew about him and the woman who took him to the SPCA could see my sign with my name and number on it. I am so angry,” he said.

Neil said Blackie had survived the mongoose, monkeys, vagrants, snares, the A1 races in Durban, all except one woman who he said had no right to take his cat away.

“I haven’t had time to mourn him yet. He didn’t look well, but he was 17-years-old and had survived so much. I have had SMSs from all over the world from people who knew him,” he said.

A statement from the Durban and Coast SPCA, following a Facebook post regarding Blackie, which went viral, referred to the fact that the post inferred there had been underhanded actions from the SPCA.

They confirmed they had received a call from a concerned member of the public about Blackie, and that an inspector had spoken with Neil and had issued him with a warning for the cat to be seen to by a private veterinarian. The statement read: “The private vet report received the following day stated that Blackie’s condition was satisfactory and that the injury was at least 17 years old and not causing discomfort. We therefore took no further action. On the morning of 7 July, a black cat with a paw injury and clipped ear was brought in by a member of the public, stating on the paperwork to have been found on the South Coast by the beach. The cat was checked by our veterinarian and found to be aged, emaciated, dehydrated, lethargic, suffering with ocular discharge and muscle wastage. No matching lost report for the cat was found and the veterinary decision was made to humanely euthanase this cat in order to end his suffering.”