SINCE November 2022 my wife and I have enjoyed having a rescued kitten from North Devon Animal Ambulance in Barnstaple who we named Iolo (pronounced YOLO).
He loved sitting on my lap having a stroke, and a friend had given him the nickname "helicopter" because he made such a loud purring noise!
On Monday, May 29 we were out. Iolo must have been in our rear garden which backs onto People's Park, and I presume he heard some young people chatting in the park.
Being very sociable I expect he jumped over our rear fence and ventured into the park.
They would have been delighted to have been approached by such a handsome and friendly cat and probably he was soon sitting on a lap having a fuss made of him.
After a while I understand that they went to walk away from the park and Iolo having enjoyed the attention followed them.
They tried to chase him back but he was keen to follow. Eventually as they crossed over People’s Park Road he followed, was hit by a car and was killed instantly.
The youths were shocked and horrified to see Iolo killed and telephoned St Boniface Vets.
Tony the vet received the call from one of the upset young men who described what had happened.
He drove to People’s Park Road and was met by the young people who showed him where Iolo lay.
Tony took Iolo back to his surgery, identified him by his microchip, and telephoned to give us the sad news that Iolo had died. We collected him and buried him in our garden.
We have been devastated to lose such a lovely cat but there are several positives.
Firstly, I am so glad that Iolo enjoyed some lovely company and met new friends just before he died.
Secondly, I am so grateful that one of the young people did the right thing and phoned Tony to report the accident and waited in the park until he arrived.
Thirdly it was so helpful that Tony took the trouble to collect Iolo, identify him and let me know what had happened.
If Iolo had just gone missing we would have spent months worrying about him, searching local sheds and putting up "missing cat" notices trying to locate him.
It's now five weeks since Iolo died and I still miss him.
I have been able to thank Tony at St Boniface Vets personally, but I don’t know who the young people were.
If anyone knows who they were please tell them that I know Iolo’s death was a tragic accident and not their fault.
It must have been very traumatic for them to witness Iolo’s untimely death. If they’d like to contact me I would very much like to thank the person who phoned the vet and hear how Iolo spent his last hour or so.
Unfortunately Iolo was just too friendly for his own good!
Mike Turnbull
Okefield Road
Crediton