Couple baffled after neighbour reported them for 'animal abuse'

Couple say they are baffled after neighbour reported them for ‘animal abuse’ when they spotted their cats sat on ‘hard ground’ outside their home

• Fay Massey and Brian Helliwell received letter in the post from a nosy neighbour
• Letter accuses the couple, both 72, of failing to look after their six cats properly
• It claims they were reported to animal charities because cats lounge on driveway
• Couple has invited unknown neighbour to inspect their home as proof they care 

Pictured: Animal rescuers Fay Massey and Brian Helliwell, both 72, were stunned to receive the letter stating the neighbour had been ‘monitoring’ their cats

An elderly couple were horrified to discover they had been reported for ‘animal abuse’ by a nosy neighbour – for leaving their cats to sit outside on the ‘hard ground’.

Animal rescuers Fay Massey and Brian Helliwell, both 72, were stunned to receive the letter this month, which stated that the neighbour had been ‘monitoring’ their driveway where their cats often lounge.

The anonymous busybody argued that they were concerned for the welfare of the cats, who they deemed ‘depressed’ for being outside on ‘hard ground’ instead of the ‘comforts of a home’.

They even claim to have reported Fay and Brian to numerous animal rights charities, comparing the ‘abuse’ to leaving a child on the driveway all day.

But the baffled couple, from Wigston, Leicestershire, say their six ‘free-spirited’ cats are free to come and go from the house as they please via a cat flap – as most felines are across the UK.

Fearing the anonymous writer might try and take their beloved pets, Fay and Brian reported the letter to the police – as they believe their threat that they are ‘monitoring’ the couple is ‘bordering on harassment or stalking’.

The retired pair are now appealing for the person to come forward, offering to open their home to them and show that the animals are well cared for.

Fay, who is known as Dr Doolittle in the community due to her love of animals, said: ‘We couldn’t believe this letter that came through the door. It just came out of the blue.

‘I don’t understand why this person is saying they’ve seen cats on the front and they don’t look healthy and they look depressed.

Fay and Brian say their cats have been lounging on the drive recently because of the heat

The avid rescuers currently have five rescue dogs as well as their six cats and frequently work with animal rescue charities, fostering cats and dogs until they find their forever home

‘How can they say that when they don’t even know the cats?

‘You can’t keep a cat in. We’ve got the cat flap, it’s never shut so they can come and go when they like.

‘That’s what cats are – free spirits. They do what they like.

‘If we didn’t care about these cats, why would we be taking them to get checked and paying the vet bills?

‘It just wound us up knowing the way we are with animals for a person to have moved here for a couple of months and say ‘I don’t think you’re looking after your animals’ because they’re sitting on the front.’

The couple say the cats are free to come and go from the house as they please via the cat flap and so recently most of them have been sunbathing on the driveway during the day.

But retired decorator Brian says they also have the option of a cool living room with fans on during the heatwave and they always ‘take over the house’ when the weather is bad.

Pictured: The letter from the nosy neighbour that was posted to the couple’s home in Wigston

Brian says Fay is known as Dr Doolittle in their local community because of her love of animals

The anonymous letter read: ‘The past few months I have been living in Wigston I have noticed at least three or four lovely cats in your driveway.

‘The more I would see them, the more I would start to question the safety of these cats.

‘Whether you are in your house all day or not, it is not fair to leave the cats outside all day.

‘I often drive by at different parts of the day and see them all sitting there instead of the comforts of a home as they should be.

‘One bowl of food [and] water is not sufficient for these cats and how rotten that food could get being outside all day is animal abuse.

‘You may love these cats but this is no way [of] life for them, especially one of them looking really young.

‘I can’t see any personality in these cats, they look depressed due to them being on hard ground all day. How would you like it?

‘Cats are family and not possessions, you would not have young children on your driveway all day. This is no different – if you disagree, then being a cat owner is not for you.

Pictured: Fay Massey, 72, with one of her six cats at their home in Wigston, Leicestershire

Fay has welcomed the anonymous neighbour to look round their home if they are concerned

‘I have raised a case with a number of animal charities that have advised me to contact you to do two things.

‘1- Have the cats indoors – please note I have been and will be monitoring the driveway and will continue to do so.

‘2- Take them to a cattery or animal charity that will give these cats the life they should be living in a warm comfortable home.

‘This isn’t a personal attack on you, I am more interested in the safety of these beautiful cats.

‘I had neighbours in the past who kept one cat outside all day [and] night and it would sadden me but I didn’t do anything as a child.

‘However, in this case, I am not willing to stand for it, especially with you having at least three cats.’

Pictured: Fay and Brian’s cats who they say freely roam around their home, inside and out

Brian and Fay says the anonymous letter writer obviously knows nothing about cats

Brian said: ‘Everybody round here knows that Fay is Dr. Dolittle – Fay looks after every animal on this earth, she’d have them all if she could.

‘The person that’s sent this doesn’t know anything about cats – you can’t lock any animal up, especially cats.

‘That’s abuse, locking a cat up in a house rather than letting it roam.

‘It was quite a strong letter. We’re really annoyed about it because it does seem like a personal attack.

‘If they’re not willing to stand for it, why don’t they come and identify themselves? We will welcome any rescue coming round to check our house and animals.’

The avid rescuers currently have five rescue dogs as well as their six cats and frequently work with animal rescue charities, fostering cats and dogs until they find their forever home.

After the anonymous neighbour warned they were ‘monitoring’ the couple and their rescued animals at their home, they decided to report the letter to the police.

Brian said: ‘That’s why we went to the police station because it’s bordering on harassment or stalking.’

Retired catering worker Fay said: ‘The letter was posted in the pillar box across the road which is about ten doors down.

‘The person has put it in the pillar box knowing that we live ten doors away because they’ve put our address on the letter.

‘But they still put it in the pillar box across the road because obviously they don’t want us to see them on the camera on the door.’

Leicestershire Police were contacted for comment.

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