Chantelle Osbourne and her friend Michelle McInerney, who both live in an estate on Rue au Blancq, Grouville, claim that their road is used as a ‘racing track’ by drivers at the weekend.
Both women found their cats dead on the road in recent weeks. They believe their pets were hit by a speeding car and left for dead.
Mrs Osbourne said: ‘We don’t know if my and Michelle’s cats were killed instantly or left to die, but whoever hit them must have known they had hit them and just drove off. I just don’t know how you could hit two cats at the same time and not realise.
‘The road is meant to be a green lane but people break the limit all the time and use the road as a racing track.’
The two women have since written to the Constables of both St Clement and Grouville asking them to get speed bumps installed to keep Islanders and their pets safe.
Mrs Osbourne said that she had received a great deal of support from the Island’s cat community, adding that she and her friend had set up a GoFundMe page to raise enough money to cremate their cats.
‘To cremate the two cats costs £490, which is so expensive, but we have been so touched by the support of the community, who donated the full amount that we needed,’ added Mrs Osbourne.
Mrs Osbourne went on to say that there had been at least six other incidents in which a cat had been killed by a car, adding that people did not seem to care.
‘If it was a dog or a child who was hit by a car you would get done for it, but nobody seems to care if it is a cat,’ she said.
Earlier this month the States Assembly unanimously supported a proposition put forward by Deputy Jeremy Maçon which called on Infrastructure Minister Kevin Lewis and Environment Minister John Young to consult about how cat owners should be notified if their pet was involved in a road accident. Deputy Maçon confirmed this was now under consultation and said: ‘Chantelle and her family have my deepest sympathies, as losing a pet can be as painful as losing a family
member.
‘I am glad to see that my proposition got unanimous support from the States and look forward to seeing the outcome of the consultation.’
