The Suzhou Small Animal Protection Association (SSAPA) seized a truck carrying 1,000 cats that were being sent to cat dealers in Jiashan, Zhejiang Province, on Wednesday, reported the Suzhou Daily.
The seizure came after a tip-off from a man in Wuxi, Jiangsu Province. When the SSAPA searched the truck, they found the cats caged and packed inside boxes. A number of them were badly injured.
Following the seizure, the SSAPA informed volunteers through social media to assist in caring for the cats. However, according to the SSAPA chief Xiaobai, given that many of the animals were newborns, nearly half of them died in a matter of time.
The SSAPA says that since around one in three of the animals were wearing collars, they believe that they had been captured illegally. However, the truck driver, identified as a Mr. Liu, has contended that the animals had been abandoned, and were being taken to be sold to dealers.
According to some volunteers, the dealers are in all likelihood buying the cats for the meat, according to the Suzhou Daily’s subaonet.com.
Earlier this month, a similar case was reported in Tianjin, which had resulted in the arrest of seven people.
