Dead cats dumped in bin following advice from Bracknell Forest Council

Eva Rogers, of Binfield Road, Priestwood, contacted Bracknell Forest Homes (BFH) when she noticed a nasty smell coming from the garden of the neighbouring house - which is currently vacant.

Upon inspection three dead cats where found in the garden. It is thought they had been dug up by a fox.

The housing association removed the cats from the garden last month but had to return several days later to remove a fourth.

Mrs Rogers said: "Job done? I wish. I came home from work to be faced with a smell by my front door that I knew was that cat. I looked at the green wheelie bin in the neighbour's garden, about six feet from the fence, and realised it was coming from there. Sure enough, I looked in the bin to see dead cats."

The 44-year-old spoke to the environmental health department at Bracknell Forest Council, which instructed BFH to empty the bin. She added: "I'm amazed that BFH placed the dead cats in the bin knowing the house was vacant and would be for some time, as it needs a lot of work. The new tenants would have been faced with weeks worth of rotting cats in their bin.

"The bin incidentally was left at the front of the house in full sunlight."

Mrs Rogers said in her view, especially given the hot weather, the cats should have been taken to a vet and cremated.

When asked why the cats had been put in the wheelie bin, rather than removed entirely, a spokesman from BFH said: "The remains were placed in two sealed bags and put in the bins, as recommended by the council, and were later removed."

The housing association said this is the first time they have had to dealt with an issue like this.

Janet Dowlman, head of environmental services at the council, said officers will remove dead animals from public places but not from private property.

She told the Midweek: "However, if a resident finds a dead pet in their garden, or on their property, they can contact the council and we can arrange a scan to see if it is has a microchip.

"If there is no ownership of the dead pet, and none reported missing, then our advice is for the dead animal to be put in a plastic bag and left for collection in their green bin.

"Alternatively, residents can put the remains in a plastic bag and take the bag to Longshot Lane Household Waste and Recycling Centre."

She added that in "exceptional circumstances" residents have been asked to place the dead animal in a bag and leave it at the front of their property near the street where it can be collected.

"We consider such cases according to the individual circumstances," she said.

"Especially if, for example, a householder finds somebody else's pet that has died on their property, then we may be able to trace the owner and let them know."