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Cat-haters on the prowl? The 20-odd cats that have gone missing in Jan Murray's Mile-End neighbourhood in the past year may have fallen prey to a cat-hating, garden-loving, grouchy neighbour. >> A neighbour of Murray's was searching for her own cat in the alleyways near de l'Esplanade and Mont-Royal two weeks ago, when she heard its meow over the high concrete wall of someone's garden. When the cat didn't come when called, she climbed up to look over the wall and saw the cat trapped in a large cage. >> The woman promptly rescued the cat and brought the information to Murray, who was conducting her own investigation into the neighbourhood's diaspora of cats. Murray lost her own cat two months ago and went knocking on doors up and down the adjacent streets, patrolled alleyways repeatedly and posted signs throughout the neighbourhood. >> Murray took photos of the cage, called the police and confronted the cage's owner point blank about whether he had seen her cat. The neighbour said he hadn't, but laughingly warned Murray about "crazy people in the neighbourhood" who snatched people's cats if they were let loose. Police have yet to get back to Murray about her complaint. >> The cage was gone when the Mirror went to check it out, and the neighbour had left on holiday and was unavailable for comment. Murray can't guess what the man has done with any cats he may have caught. >> But he may not be the only cat-hater in Mile-End. Around the same time, an anonymous sign was found posted in the neighbourhood stating that a cat had been killed with a pellet gun or air rifle and urged anyone with information to call the police. >> Murray hopes to set up an animal advocacy group in the neighbourhood to exchange information on lost and found pets, create awareness about missing animals, and lobby government to change laws regarding animals used in labs, among other activities. For more information, call 288-1564, ext. 1. --Jacquie Charlton
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