Business denies allegations of animal cruelty made by anonymous accusers
Union Tiles Bedfordview denies any cats were deliberately killed on the company's premises, despite online rumours.
Social media is a brilliant innovation that helps businesses connect with consumers in distant lands in an instant.
However, the vastness of the digital era can carry with it a negative impact.
Union Tiles Bedfordview has been shocked by allegations of animal cruelty which recently surfaced online and have since denied all allegations.
These allegations were first shared via a broadcast message on WhatsApp.
In the message Union Tiles, situated on North Reef Road, Germiston, is accused of killing feral cats living on their property.
“The allegations that we are killing cats are grossly unfair and related to unverified facts,” said Llewellyn Oliver, brand connection specialist for Union Tiles.
He said the company is not killing the animals, but rather humanely trapping them with cat traps from the Bedfordview and Germiston SPCA.
Oliver said there are about 150 to 200 feral cats on their premises and two feeding stations that they know of.
“The water supply and food sources are the reasons why these cats are still on our premises.
“We are concerned about the number of cats the SPCA can take in,” said Oliver.
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How the trap works:
A cat trap is a rectangle shaped cage with a door and is equipped with a trip plate.
When a cat enters the trap and walks to the back to get the bait, which has been placed behind the trap, they will walk over the trip plate which will cause the cage door to close.
The company also cover the cats so they do not get traumatised.
Oliver said by using this trapping method the cats do not get harmed in any way.
“The factory is not a safe place, especially for cats,” said Oliver.
“Often times the cats would get in the wooden pallet structures and the structures would fall on them, injuring quite a number of them and leading to fatalities,” said Oliver.
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Jeremy Jeffrey, Bedfordview and Germiston SPCA acting manager, said the allegations against the company are unfounded and confirmed that they are working with Union Tiles to ensure the safety of the feral cats on their premises.
Jeffrey said the SPCA has also joined hands with Angie Eatwell from the South African Feral Foundation (SAFE) on this pressing issue.
“Feral cats are undomesticated cats regularly found in industrial areas close to water and food sources,” said Eatwell.
“Feral cats are routine-based animals.
“What needs to be done is a simple TNR procedure,” said Eatwell.
The TNR procedure is when cats are trapped, neutered and returned to their familiar environment.
According to Angie, the Union Tile environment is unsafe for feral cats and the feeding stations need to be placed outside of danger zones on the premises.
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Angie added once the cats are sterilised cross-contamination with other animals found on Union Tiles premises will minimise.
The SPCA, SAFE, Anti-Animal Cruelty League and Edenvale Ferals and Union Tiles are working together to carry out a mass TNR procedure, which is scheduled for April.
Union Tiles director Vincent Ghisleni said Union Tiles is a family business with family values and that they donate to the SPCA.
“We are prepared to donate for every cat taken to the SPCA.
“We will pay for the cat to be neutered and for food for the first month,” said Ghisleni.
The SPCA, SAFE, Anti-Animal Cruelty League and Edenvale Ferals are appealing to the community at large for donations in the form of cat food and feeders which cats can eat from.
To donate or for more information on how to donate call the SPCA on 011 825 5033.
Several attempts were made by the Germiston City News and sister newspaper Bedfordview and Edenvale NEWS to obtain comment from the accusers, on record, but none was received.
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Contact the newsroom by emailing: Melissa Hart (Editor) germistoncitynews@caxton.co.zaor Leigh Hodgson (News Editor) leighh@caxton.co.za or Kgotsofalang Mashilo (journalist) kgotsofalangm@caxton.co.za
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