By Dominique Tassell and Emily-Rose Toohey
A local couple has spoken out against allegations made about their cat rescue by other organisations.
Cheri and Chris Bate run Companion Cats Australia and say they’ve been the victim of a hate campaign online.
The rescue’s page on Facebook has been taken down and Cheri has changed her profile name.
She said she was forced to do so after being harassed.
Multiple posts have been made online alleging that Companion Cats Australia has neglected the cats in their care.
Monto Bush Cat Rescue in particular has made numerous posts, and included photos of cats they allege came from Companion Cats Australia.
Cheri and Chris say they agreed to help Monto Bush Cat Rescue in April by taking in some of their cats for them.
According to Cheri, these cats were completely feral and had no vet work done.
Monto Bush Cat Rescue reportedly dropped off 15 cats “and disappeared”.
Cheri says the enclosure supplied by Monto Bush Cat Rescue was made of temporary fencing and chicken wire, with no roof or flooring, and this is the enclosure shown in the majority of photos online.
The Warwick couple say they put money into putting a roof on the inclosure and replacing the wiring.
“We set it up to the best of our ability,” Cheri says.
Three weeks later, and the day before the cats were due to be returned, Cheri says they “busted out” of their enclosure.
Monto Bush Cat Rescue is reportedly alleging that all these cats are now deceased.
Cheri says that on 24 May around midnight, people from other rescues showed up at their Warwick home claiming to be involved with RSPCA when they were not.
They took away the cats present at the home, and also removed cats from the couple’s Upper Freestone property.
Facebook posts allege that there were 20 to 30 deceased cats present on the property at this time and that numerous other cats were taken in varying conditions.
Monto Bush Cat Rescue has posted several photo albums online of the cats they claim came from Companion Cats Australia.
Cheri says these photos are from after the flood in May and are an unfair reflection of the state of the property.
She also says that the cats kept on the Upper Freestone property are cats which are sick or feral.
Companion Cats Australia reportedly took on a large number of death row cats and kittens in “dire straits”.
Cheri has provided screenshots of messages between Mt Isa pound and Companion Cats Australia, where the Mt Isa pound states the cats taken in by Companion Cats Australia were sick prior to being given to them.
One of the deceased cats pictured online was a terminally ill colony cat with vet work done, Cheri says.
“There was no point putting it down because it’s not in any pain,” she says.
She says that almost 50 cats were “shoved in the back of a car” and driven for three hours, which resulted in them being in a worse condition.
Cheri says some were cats that should never have been transferred because they were ill.
“If you’re looking after the welfare of the cats wouldn’t you go to the nearest vets?”
While some posts online reportedly claim Cheri and Chris are taking in more cats, they say they’ve still got some remaining cats but have not taken any more in since the May incident.
She says this is in large part because they can’t guarantee someone won’t come and “steal” them.
Cheri says RSPCA has been out to check both premises and hasn’t pressed any charges.
She says if they thought there was something going on, they would have done so.
Cheri says that if people were concerned, they should have gone through the proper process.
“There are procedures for this sort of thing,” she says. “You don’t just rock up at people’s properties and start removing animals saying you’re the RSPCA.”
Chris says they have involved the police, and want to pursue action against the people who claimed they represented RSPCA when they did not.
He says the posts online have also shown everything in the worst possible light.
“They’ve gone out of the way to make it look as bad as possible,” he says.
Chris says they have misrepresented the situation in multiple ways, down to how many cats were present on site.
Some posts online state they had 150 cats, Chris says, but the highest number they’ve ever had is 60 and that was on a day when they were transporting the cats elsewhere.
He says some of the rescues involved have simply used this as a way to get people to donate money online.
Brisbane rescue Best Friends Felines say they took in some of the cats from Companion Cats Australia and they were all in “horrible conditions”.
They allege the cats were starved and emaciated, with some in organ failure.
Others reportedly presented with ringworm, cat flu, mouth ulcers, and urine scalding.
The representative says at least 25 different people have reported Companion Cats Australia.
“I’ve had contact from quite a few people to say ‘I gave this woman my cat and now they’re looking for them’,” they said.
Southern Downs ARK president Ann Simon said initially, a woman directly involved with the situation reached out to her.
“She asked me to babysit three cats for the night,” Ann said.
“ARK wasn’t involved in anything other than caring for those cats.”
However, she said that Cheri had contacted the group several years prior, but has never received cats from the organisation.
“We run a rescue to rescue animals and are concerned for their welfare.
“It’s dreadful and just appalling that this has happened.”
She also said that to start up a rescue organisation, there was no official permit required, hence why Companion Cats Australia was able to form.
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) was reached out for comment to confirm details regarding the case.
However, the organisation was unable to provide any information.
“The RSPCA Inspectorate is currently investigating this matter and is unable to comment on the details of an open investigation,” an RSPCA spokesperson said.
Warwick Police acting officer-in-charge Sergeant Cameron Slater said that police were investigating a break-in at Cheri’s Warwick home that occurred on 24 May between midnight and 2 am.
“Two persons attended the address claiming to be conducting an inquiry on behalf of the RSPCA, entered the residence, and took a number of cats and kittens,” Sergeant Slater said.
“The victim claimed that another 20 cats were taken from her Freestone property as well.”
Monto Bush Cat Rescue and Southern Downs Regional Council did not respond to a request for comment.
