A CAT lover is on a mission to reunite lost felines with their owners after her own pet died and was disposed of without her knowledge.

Alison Wilcocks, 44, has purchased a microchip scanner and will scan any lost or deceased cats reported to her, for free, in a bid to reunite them with their owners.

Her idea comes after her own cat, four-year-old tabby Pippin, went missing last month.

Alison and her husband Roy, 52, daughter Alicia, 13, and son George, 10, spent 10 days searching for their beloved pet.

But, their efforts proved fruitless after they were told by a neighbour that a cat fitting Pippin’s description had been found dead in a nearby garden.

The neighbour also claimed that the resident of the property contacted their landlord, Aster Housing, which came to remove the cat – but rather than scanning the microchip in order to find its owner, they buried it at a landfill site.

Alison, who is from Weymouth and runs Purrfect Boarding Cattery, on Radipole Lane, said: “The elderly gentleman who found the cat in his garden called Aster and told them to come and collect it.

“He even said to them that it must be someone’s pet because it was in good condition. But they didn’t scan the cat, they just buried it.

“Pippin was microchipped. All they had to do was scan the cat, or take it to a vet to scan, and if it was Pippin, ask us if we wanted his remains or whether we wanted them to dispose him. It’s just heartbreaking. He was only a young cat and the children are devastated we can’t give him a proper burial.”

Alison purchased a scanner so that she can help reunite lost and deceased cats with their owners in the Weymouth area.

“We’re trying to make a positive out of a really horrible situation by making sure no family has to go through what we’ve been through,” she said.

“Running a cattery, I feel for my customers and I think these things should be handled sensitively.”

A spokesman for Aster Housing said: “In most cases, where a domestic animal is found on land we are responsible for, we would take it to a local vet.

“In this instance however, the decision was taken not to do this as the cat was in a state of advanced decomposition. Without an identity collar it was not possible for us to trace the owners before we removed the animal.

“We have a responsibility to our customers to ensure that we comply with public health requirements.”

If you find a lost or deceased cat in the Weymouth area, contact Alison on 07875 626566.