The case of a domestic cat killed by a train in Paris caused horror in France. Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin said on Friday that he was “particularly shocked” by the way in which the French railway company SNCF “handled this terrible case”. The investigation must now clarify who is criminally responsible for the cat’s death.
Escaped at the train station
Neko the cat escaped from his owner Georgia and her 15-year-old daughter Melaina on Jan. 2 at Montparnasse train station in Paris. He jumped out of his carry bag and disappeared under a train. Mother and daughter tried in vain for 20 minutes to stop the train from leaving. The team did not comply with her request, the train left and killed the cat.
cut in half
“We saw it cut in half,” Melaina told animal rights organization 30 Million Friends. “We were told it wasn’t their problem, it was just a cat and we should have kept them on a leash.” After the traumatic experience, the train only offered them a free ticket to Bordeaux.
The organization 30 million friends denounced the SNCF because of “serious abuse and cruelty that led to the death of an animal”. If it goes to trial, a court can impose a fine of up to €75,000 and a five-year prison sentence.
“Couldn’t save the cat”
The SNCF said it regretted the “tragic” incident, but the cat could not be rescued as stepping on the tracks is strictly prohibited due to the risk of electrocution. Darmanin has now announced training for police officers at 4,000 train stations across the country to better respond to animal smuggling and animal cruelty.