Family’s missing microchipped cat is found after 4 years living with new owners – but they can’t be told where because of data protection laws
A microchip company have refused to hand over the details of the current owners and Karen Young is now battling to get him back
A FAMILY are devastated after discovering their missing cat has been stolen - only to be told they cannot find its location due to the Data Protection Act.
Karen Young, 41, had her seven-year-old Bengal cat, Tigger, microchipped when she purchased him for £800 in 2009.
The rare cat went missing in 2012, but three weeks ago Karen, who works in the beauty industry, received a letter in the post from microchip database Petlog requesting a change in ownership.
Ecstatic that her beloved pet was still alive, Karen assumed she would automatically be reunited with Tigger.
However, Petlog have refused to hand over the details of the people who currently hold her cat and she is now battling to get him back.
Furious Karen, from Tamworth, Staffordshire, said: "I couldn't believe it when I discovered Tigger was still alive. It'd be so long, that I had given up all hope of seeing him again. Me and my kids were over the moon and were relieved he was ok.
"But when I got in touch with Petlog and told them I was the owner and I wanted to be reunited with my cat, they refused to tell me who had him, due to data protection rules and instead said they'd pass on my details.
"They told me it was up to the people who had him to get in touch with me.
"But they still haven't, and they continue to withhold him. It's disgusting.
"Essentially the system is pointless if your pet falls into dishonest hands."
When Tigger went missing in 2012, Karen and her children Carmen, 13, Leon, 15, and Sam, 19, were distraught and searched for miles.
Four years passed until Karen received the letter from Petlog.
She added: "I told them that I didn't want to transfer the ownership because my cat had been missing all that time. I asked them for the name and address of the people that had my cat, but they point blank refused.
"In fact they were very insensitive to my case, and kept referring to the other keepers as Tigger's 'owners', I was furious.
"I called a number of times, but they kept telling me they were bound by the Data Protection Act, so I couldn't force their hand - even though I was in tears."
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After failing to retrieve the information, Karen contacted Staffordshire Police and reported her cat as stolen.
They are in the process of requesting the details of the current owners from Petlog.
Last week Karen launched an appeal on Facebook, pleading with the public to help find Tigger.
She continued: "The thieves who have Tigger have essentially abducted a member of my family, how would they feel if I stole one of their pets?
"Who knows how long they've had him for, knowing he belongs to someone else.
"It's cruel to withhold someone else's pet - me and my children are devastated. I hope they do the right thing and give him back. He is my property and rightfully mine.
"Based on my experience I think microchipping is a scam. I paid for a service I'm not receiving. It's a mockery and protects criminals."
In April this year it became compulsory for dog owners to ensure their pet is microchipped, but it is not a legal requirement for cat owners.
The average cost of implanting a microchip is between £25 and £30.
A spokesperson for Petlog said: "A microchip registration should not be treated as proof of ownership, but rather it is a record of keepership i.e. where a pet animal normally resides and is intended to assist reunification if the pet goes missing.
"The primary role of Petlog is to reunite lost pets by holding up to date contact information on the database so that we can provide that information to those managing a reunification.
"Legal ownership of a cat is not defined by law and microchipping is not proof of legal ownership. In cases where there is a legal dispute over ownership, and keepership issues arise, if the dispute cannot be reconciled by agreement between two conflicting parties, the dispute will become a civil matter for a court to decide.
"In the case of stolen pets the police will need to be informed. Petlog will work with the police and other relevant authorities to help reunite any pet but it is against Data Protection legislation to provide personal data to third parties and Petlog must work through authorised statutory agencies.
"Petlog cannot make any adjudication regarding a dispute over ownership but will update the keeper's record as appropriate once a dispute has been settled."
A spokesperson for Staffordshire Police said: "Staffordshire Police was made aware of the incident involving the once, missing cat which has now ended up in the possession of, currently, unknown people or person.
"Via a third party, this individual or individuals have been made aware that the cat in their possession has an owner and they should take appropriate steps to return the cat to its rightful owner. We expect this to happen. Failure to do so could result in further police action."