Escaped African serval found 'sitting in the sun' on Vancouver Island
One of two African servals that was still at large on Vancouver Island on Friday has been located, according to its owner.
Sylvia Lammers' large exotic cat, Cassia, escaped her Brentwood Bay, B.C., home twice this week. The first time was on Sunday, when the cat apparently learned how to open the home's back door.
"We thought it was our error that we left the door open, not realizing that she had figured it out," Lammers told CTV News on Thursday.
Lammers was able to coax Cassia back home with treats, but then she went missing again on Monday.
On Friday, Lammers said the African serval had been found and recovered not far from where a trap had been set up to catch her.
She says Cassia was found at a rural home that had a long private driveway.
"There she was sitting in the sun on the patio," Lammers told CTV News.
The cat owner says she knocked on the home's front door but no one was there. Eventually, the owners grabbed Cassia's crate and tried to coax the cat inside with more treats.
The serval seemed uninterested until Lammers slowly walked around the animal and approached it from behind.
"She got up and literally trotted into the crate," said Lammers. "I shut the door and melted in a blubbery pool of tears."
OTHER ESCAPES
Cassia was the third African serval to go missing on Vancouver Island this week.
On Sunday, two servals were reportedly let loose from their enclosure in Qualicum Beach, B.C., before one or both of the exotic pets killed a domestic cat.
One of the pair was located on Wednesday, while the other remains unaccounted for as of Friday.
African servals are not listed under B.C.'s controlled animal regulations, and can be legally owned in the province.
Their ownership is controversial, however, with some municipalities banning exotic felines like servals. The BC SPCA also describes them as difficult to care for in a domestic setting.
On Thursday, Lammers pushed back on the idea that African servals are wild animals and said they have been domesticated for generations.
She added that Cassia had always been raised as a pet and would not be able survive on her own.
Local organization ROAM, which helps track down missing pets in Greater Victoria, says many community members chipped in to help find Cassia.
"In this particular case, this type of cat has gotten a bad rap," said Terry Mah, an administrator with ROAM.
He says that some people became concerned after the domestic cat was killed in the Qualicum area.
"Servals can be quite vicious and mean but this cat doesn't have a mean bone in its body and it's been really living as a pet," he said.
"In this case the response from the community was really great. We had a lot of eyes, people were really generally happy to help out," said Mah.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Montreal man on the hook for thousands of dollars after a feature on his Tesla caused an accident
A Montreal man is warning Tesla drivers about using the Smart Summon feature after his vehicle hit another in a parking lot.
Denial and uncertainty are looming over a Biden-Trump rematch 6 months out from U.S. Election Day
Exactly six months before Election Day, Biden and Trump are locked in the first contest in 112 years with a current and former president competing for the White House. It's a race that is at once deeply entrenched and highly in flux as many voters are only just beginning to embrace the reality of the 2024 campaign.
Maple Leafs eliminated from NHL playoffs with Game 7 OT loss to Bruins
Sheldon Keefe told his players hockey history would remember them one way or another.
opinion You don't need to be an influencer to earn income from social media
How legitimate are claims by some content creators that the average person can earn passive income from social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram? Personal finance columnist Christopher Liew says it's quite possible, if you're willing to put in the initial time and effort.
Should you save or splurge on makeup this summer?
If you're wondering whether you should splurge or save when it comes to buying skincare products and makeup this summer, we got some answers for you.
What a judge's gag order on Trump means in his hush money case
A gag order bars Trump from commenting publicly on witnesses, jurors and some others connected to the matter. The New York judge already has found that Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee for president, repeatedly violated the order, fined him US$9,000 and warning that jail could follow if he doesn't comply.
Israel closes Gaza crossing after Hamas attack and vows military operation 'in the very near future'
Israel closed its main crossing point for delivering badly needed humanitarian aid for Gaza on Sunday after Hamas militants attacked it, reportedly wounding several Israelis, while the defense minister warned of "a powerful operation in the very near future in Rafah and other places across all of Gaza."
‘Love has no boundaries’: Sask. couple in their 90s and 80s get married
Eighty-two-year-old Susan Neufeldt and 90-year-old Ulrich Richter are no spring chickens, but their love blossomed over the weekend with their wedding at Pine View Manor just outside of Rosthern.
Madonna's biggest-ever concert transforms Rio's Copacabana beach into a massive dance floor
Madonna put on a free concert on Copacabana beach Saturday night, turning Rio de Janeiro's vast stretch of sand into an enormous dance floor teeming with a multitude of her fans.