Russia: Cat thrown off the train into snow found dead
Russia’s railway giant RZhD has issued an apology to the owners of a cat that perished after a conductor tossed it off a company train in freezing conditions.
Expressing deep regret over the death of the cat named Twix, the state-owned RZhD pledged to revise its regulations. Earlier footage depicted the ginger-and-white cat being callously thrown into the snow in Kirov, east of Moscow, on January 11.
The conductor reportedly mistook the male cat for a stray after it escaped from its travel crate and was seen wandering through a carriage by passengers.
Following the incident, numerous volunteers scoured the railway station area in Kirov. Tragically, the cat was discovered lifeless on Saturday and later identified by its owners.
Some reports suggest that Twix succumbed to an animal bite and frostbite. Amidst a severe cold snap affecting vast areas of Russia, with temperatures plummeting as low as -30C in Kirov, over 70,000 people have signed a petition demanding a criminal investigation against the female conductor, as local authorities declined to pursue one.
A separate petition – signed by more than 200,000 – is asking for the female conductor, who has not been publicly identified, to be sacked.
One of Twix’s owners told state media he intended to pursue the matter through the courts.
Thousands of people across Russia were following developments on a specially created social media channel.
Since Twix’s death was confirmed, one user posted a painted image of the cat with angel wings and a halo over its head.
On Saturday, the RZhD said it was already implementing changes that would prohibit company conductors from “disembarking animals from trains”.
Instead, the company added, they would be handed to employees at railway stations, and animal protection groups would be called.
The RzhD has been forced on the defensive by the backlash, feeling the need to state on social media that its employees “treat animals with great attention and love, and take care of them in every possible way on the journey”.
It said that railway workers had taken part in the search for Twix, and added that one of its subsidiaries was looking into establishing long-term links with organisations that help stray animals across Russia.