Park View is a high-end residential compound close to Erbil International Airport. Its residents say they have been feeding the stray cats living in the compound for years and that the felines are generally loved and cared for, but denounced as a “grotesque act of animal cruelty,” the management’s decision to rid of the cats in allegedly inhumane ways.
“It was the most disturbing and grotesque act of animal cruelty. I saw three Park View employees converge around a cat, shove it into a black rubbish bag, and attempt to dispose of it like garbage. The cat was visibly terrified and in pain,” Aram Alaaldin, a Park View resident and director of an Erbil and London-based strategic advisory firm, told Rudaw English on Tuesday.
Alaaldin said that he rescued the cat in question after intervening, but he has “noticed the disappearance of several other cats these past two days.”
Such incidents are increasingly becoming commonplace in Park View after the management reportedly issued a decision to eliminate cats from the area, citing complaints from two residents who felt harassed by their presence.
“Residents have cared for them since they were kittens, feeding and nurturing them. Over the years, they’ve become a beloved fixture, bringing joy and warmth to everyone who calls Park View home,” Alaaldin said.
Videos submitted to Rudaw English shows the cats eating after being given cat food by Park View’s residents – the “extremely in the majority” of people Alaaldin said are in favor of keeping the cats.
A gardener at Park View confirmed to Rudaw English on the condition of anonymity the decision to eliminate the cats from the complex.
Another longtime resident said that the management initially brought the cats into the area to fight the infestation of mice.
“Park View was infested with mice everywhere. That’s why we brought the cats. The cats are a part of the community here and they should be treated with respect,” said Jean, who declined to mention his full name.
He referred to cities such as Istanbul as models for the proper treatment of animals.
Park View’s manager on Saturday explained to Rudaw English that the cats were removed from the compound due to complaints from many residents about their increased number, saying they began living in the corridors and elevators.
He stressed that the cats were not harmed, but rather transported to Erbil’s Sami Abdulrahman Park - the largest park in the city - and set free there.
According to the manager, the cats were initially welcomed in the compound but the administration had to act once their numbers became too unsustainable. Complaints from “tribal” residents exacerbated their need to act against the cats.
Violence against stray dogs and cats is rife in the Kurdistan Region with the animals often considered a menace and public health risk. They are commonly shooed away, beaten, hit with sticks, and killed by cars and gunshots.
Updated on November 9, 2024 at 7:07 pm with comments from Park View's management.