June Jarman (email)
As one of the people involved in the care of the feral cat project at Monash South Africa, I feel it is important for me to comment on your article published on 22 November.
Firstly, a number of people are involved in feeding and caring for the feral cats. Mr Jaco Booysen attends to the cats (at his own expense) at one of the residences, which is owned privately and therefore not part of Monash South Africa’s campus. I tend to the cats at the gate house and on the University property. Food is provided by two other ladies and I. Whenever any cats require attention or if I notice a newcomer to the colony, the animal organisation, FourPaws, is contacted and they send their team to catch, sterilise and mark the cats. A small clip is made on either the left or right ear to distinguish the gender of the cat. The costs involved are paid by another animal organisation called Saints. Monash South Africa does not cover any costs for running this project.
Secondly, I noticed that Snowy had a problem with her ear some weeks back, and that she had been scratching her ear. Dried blood was around the ear, and I first thought that she had been involved in a fight. The scratching was on her clipped ear. FourPaws came to the University but could not catch the cat. I spoke to Mr Booysen shortly afterwards, and he said that he was caring for Snowy and cleaning her ear.
I certainly do not believe that any student tried to mutilate Snowy in any way, as the students at the residence in question are extremely caring. I am sure that she unfortunately had cancer on her ear. She was lovingly cared for by Mr Booysen in every way possible.
Our cats are in good health, and the students take an interest in their wellbeing. I am also absolutely sure that when a feral cat was mutilated earlier on in the year, it was carried out by a casual worker who was found to be a drug peddler.
The claim made about a drug peddler could not be confirmed with June Jarman as the email address her letter seems to have been sent from is no longer functioning. She is a researcher and educator at the Monash South Africa campus. Snowy, having been mutilated or not, has not been assessed by the Roodepoort SPCA since their initial inspection, unless her recovery was never reported. Any updates on the story will be shared with our readers, should we attain new information. — MM.
