The DSPCA found an abandoned cat in a cage with a heartbreaking goodbye note from her former owner.
Nala was found in a pet carrier covered in green hearts in Rathfarnham yesterday.
She was wrapped in a Minnie Mouse blanket and had a thoughtful letter attached - seemingly written by a young girl - explaining that, due to family circumstances, she has to give up her "best friend".
The note read: “Please rehome my cat Nala, she is two years old in September.
"She was a feral cat I found under the car at five weeks old. She had three kittens in November.
"One died in her womb and she needed an emergency section to save her.
“She was on antibiotics for a kidney infection after it but I think she still has it as her urine smells fishy. Her kittens have all been rehomed.”
“She is my best friend and she was so cared for and loved. She takes a while to get used to people she doesn’t trust easily, especially boys. She runs away from boys and men.
“She is an indoor cat and she sleeps in my room with me. Her favourite food is meat chunks in gravy. She licks all of the gravy off and comes back for the meat later. She doesn’t really drink a lot of water.
“Please make sure Nala goes to a good home. I love you Nala forever and ever and you will be my best friend.”
DSPCA spokeswoman Gillian Bird wants to let the kindhearted owner know that Nala is in safe hands and is being looked after.
She told Dublin Live: “Nala was in a pet carrier that had lovely little love hearts drawn all over it, and she came with a note.
“It looks like the handwriting belongs to a young teenager, the letter has broken hearts and sad faces drawn.
“It’s very neat handwriting and ‘I love you Nala, I’m so sorry’ is written down the side of it.
“We want the young person who wrote the lovely, caring note to know that the cat is safe and we will find a lovely home for her.
"For anyone else who is in this type of situation, please contact us, don’t abandon the animal.”
Gillian’s message to the public is for anyone in a similar situation to come forward and ask the DSPCA directly for help.
She said: “Nala is very good, we’ve to vaccinate and neuter her.
"She is going to a temporary foster home until she recovers then we will rehome her. Our priority is to find her a good home.
“Please do not abandon your animal and if you do have a problem, please contact us, we will do absolutely anything we can to help you, we can take in your pet but you have to work with us.
“Abandoning an animal is illegal and not safe because you have no idea who would pick them up or what could happen, plus it's not safe with the weather that we’re having as well.”
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