Who are the mystery couple seen ‘abducting’ stray cats?

The search is on for a couple who animal welfare activists fear are abducting stray cats. For two years, reports were made about the couple who drive a white van, trap and take cats away, the co-founder of Stray Animals Support Group SASG, Janine Vella, said. She fears “hundreds” of cats have been taken for their coats or even meat, pointing out that she had already sent out an e-mail last year about the couple. The matter has also been reported to Animal Welfare Department director Joseph Vella who, yesterday, issued an appeal for witnesses to anything suspicious to call the police or contact the department. Despite several reports, nobody noted the van’s number plate so far and some were even unwittingly deceived by the fact that the couple told onlookers they were neutering the cats, Ms Vella said. The first report she received was from a person in Żebbuġ two years ago, followed by sightings in Siġġiewi, Guardamangia and, a few weeks ago, from the Karin Grech Hospital area. The latest report was made by a concerned foreigner in Buġibba, who reported that cats in the street by the former Limelight Hotel and next to the Grapevine Pub had also gone missing. Ms Vella pointed out...