Two cats accidentally buried due to a broken chip reader, but the municipality has a solution (Zoersel)

Two cats that had been killed were accidentally buried due to a broken municipal chip reader. The municipality expresses mea culpa and has worked out a solution so that it cannot happen again.

Recently, two cats that were run over and collected by municipal services were buried. The chip reader did not recognize a chip. Afterwards someone recognized his missing ginger cat. The animals were re-excavated and identified. It turned out that the municipality’s chip reader was broken. The non-profit organization that Zoersel collaborates with for the stray cat policy was not amused and felt that they should have been contacted themselves.

During the Zoersel municipal council, Alderman Luc Kennis (CD&V) explained how this could have happened in response to a question from councilor Wouter Bollansée (Vlaams Belang). According to Bollansée, due to the GDPR legislation, not all chips are still readable by the municipality and police, but only people from a stray cat non-profit organization and veterinarians could do this.

Alderman Kennis regretted the fuss that had arisen. “Our people are not obliged to do this, it is not the responsibility of the municipality. But they do this to do good and help. The new chip reader that we ordered can indeed read all data. We have also ordered a larger chest freezer in which the carcasses of dead cats and dogs that our technical service people will load can be stored for longer. Even without a chip, owners who ask after a few days whether we have picked up their dog or cat can still come and pick up their pet. Previously we did not have much space and the carcasses were sometimes kept in a cool room, but we are now better equipped with that chest freezer.”

The municipality has so far relied on one veterinarian. “We are now going to work with a veterinarian in each sub-municipality that people can go to.” The municipality regrets that the non-profit organization it worked with reacted so strongly. Alderman Danny Van de Velde (N-VA) also found this unacceptable. “Our people became demolished on social media, even though the chip reader was broken. We have sent a response to every email we received from that non-profit organization.”

Finally, Bollansée (Vlaams Belang) wanted to know what residents should do if they lose their dog or cat. “We as a municipality are not responsible for this,” said Danny Van de Velde, “but you will find many tips on our municipal website.”

The new collaboration with a veterinarian in each sub-municipality will soon be communicated on the municipal channels.

(kma)