A Saskatoon family was surprised to find their cat, Mon, in a rural field more than 30 kilometers away from home after he went missing. Huy Nguyen and Jesse Dinh noticed Mon was not around on the morning of September 4. Despite efforts to keep Mon indoors due to having dogs and a young child, Mon was skilled at escaping.
Using Mon’s tracking device, they discovered he was in a neighboring property in the Arbor Creek area. City regulations prohibit cats from roaming freely, but Mon was fond of the outdoors. Despite trying to locate Mon at their neighbor’s house, there was no response. After unsuccessful attempts to find Mon, they suspected foul play in his disappearance.
Further tracking showed Mon’s movement to a highway east of the city and then to an area near Clavet, Saskatchewan. Nguyen and Dinh searched for Mon in that area but could not locate him. Despite offering rewards and seeking help through various channels, Mon was found dead a month after he went missing, likely due to wildlife.
During the investigation, they discovered surveillance footage implicating their neighbor, John Steel, who raises pigeons, in Mon’s disappearance. A confrontation with Steel revealed his involvement in relocating Mon. Steel admitted to trapping Mon due to the cat’s presence in his property and harming his pigeons.
While trapping cats on personal property is legal, causing harm to the animal is prohibited. The family filed a complaint with Animal Protection Services of Saskatchewan, urging action against such acts. Investigations are ongoing, with potential charges under animal protection laws.
This incident has raised concerns about the safety of pets and the importance of keeping them indoors or under supervision. The family is determined to raise awareness about pet safety and prevent similar incidents in the future.