A woman in Atlanta said that she was “heartbroken” after learning that the exotic African cat had escaped and entered another person’s home. The authorities did not allow her to keep her exotic African cat.
Anna Fyfe, the owner of the African Serval Nala, said that the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) detained the cat on Thursday because the cat managed to escape her home more than a week ago . 11 Live news reports. This large spotted wildcat is native to sub-Saharan Africa and is illegal to keep as a pet in Georgia.
“I’m very sad,” Fyfe told the news media. “She really helped me through a lot of difficulties.”
Fyfe told 11Alive News that her family found Nala near her home in South Carolina. According to news media reports, when Fyfe moved to Atlanta to study at the University of Georgia, she decided to take the 2-year-old cat with her.
After Nala escaped from Fyfe on June 30 and was found in another person’s home, it first attracted the attention of the DNR. Enter her house and jump onto her bed.
According to local news media, Frank said: “I was lying on the bed and heard a bang on the bed.” She opened her eyes and found a serval just 6 inches from her face. “It’s big. It’s scary.”
Frank said she recalled thinking that the animal, about two and a half feet tall, might be a bobcat or a little leopard. She immediately called the Animal Control Center, who told her to contact DNR.
‘That is not an ordinary domestic cat.I don’t know what it is, but I’m scared now,’” she told CNNBefore the authorities managed to find her, the serval was at large in Atlanta for nearly a week.
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Although it is illegal to own a serval, Lieutenant Wayne Hubbard of DNR told the news media that African cats are still very popular in the pet trade. But now that Nala has been discovered, the Animal Federation Defense Fund (ALDF) said they hope to place her in a certified shelter, where she can live in a more natural habitat.
According to 11Alive, the cat is currently under the supervision of DNR and is under evaluation.
“Servals are different from domestic cats. They are wild animals that are not private homes. In their natural environment, they have vast territories where they crawl, run, jump, and hunt every day. In private homes, they are born Will be deprived of the opportunity to demonstrate these natural behaviors-thus affecting their physical and mental needs and leading to reduced welfare,” said Alicia Prygoski, ALDF Senior Legislative Affairs Manager Weekly newspaper.
“Accepted shelters provide a safe and secure environment, so the risk of escape is significantly reduced compared to leaving the serval in a private home. Sending this serval to an approved shelter will save the cat and the community from another time The injury of running away,” she added.
But Fyfe disagreed with the authorities and worried that Nala would be afraid of being taken away from her home. She said that Nala had her paws removed, and she slept safely in her bed every night and was fed raw chicken and steak.
“Yes, she is illegal in Georgia, but her home is in South Carolina,” Fyfe told 11Alive. “I think she should be taken back there. She may be scared and confused now.”
Fyfe added that she will try to visit the cat and try to fight for her custody again.
She told the news media: “I will do my best to fight against it.” “I think it is unfair for her to go to the shelter. Considering her previous life, this is not a good life for her.”
