By Georgia Westgarth
A CASEY-BASED cat rescue group is desperately trying to distance itself and its good work from a network called ‘Cat Busters’, who have proudly exposed images of dead cats next to guns, online.
The sick images of cats lying dead on the ground and cats locked in cages have circulated after Hampton Park’s, 2nd Chance Cat Rescue was alerted to a breach of their ABN number.
Founder of the five-year-old, not-for-profit rescue group, Daniela Maslen, told the News that Cat Busters is hiding behind her ABN number.
“We don’t want to be associated with that group in any way because they are killing animals,” Ms Maslen said.
It’s alleged that Cat Busters is active in the Frankston area, and has dropped leaflets advertising their service to ‘catch cats’.
2nd Chance Cat Rescue volunteer Tracey Perry said Cat Busters was “capturing, torturing and killing” cats.
“Their websites keep getting put up and taken down- they’ve turned some cat skins into stubbie holders and proceeded to advertise that online,” Ms Perry said.
RSPCA Victoria Inspectorate manager Allie Jalbert said the RSPCA was made aware of the Cat Busters Facebook group in July, after receiving a call about a letterbox drop promoting it.
“No specific offence was reported, and no information found to substantiate any cruelty offences have occurred, so the matter has been finalised,” Ms Jalbert said.
The Cat Busters live website (catbusters.org.au) states that: “Cats are a menace in Australia”, and that they will trap cats in residential or populated areas.
The website states: “In rural and bushland areas, cats may be trapped or shot, depending on local laws.”
2nd Chance Cat Rescue works to re-home both kittens and cats by desexing, vaccinating and microchipping them before finding them new homes.
Ms Maslen said she had reported the matter to the Australian Taxation Office.
