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SPCA 'begged' Sampson not to kill cat

Cape Town - Allan Perrins, CEO of the Cape of Good Hope SPCA, has expressed shock at the news of comedian Mark Sampson beheading a cat mauled by his dogs in his yard.

Perrins told Channel24 that Sampson allegedly called the Cape Animal Medical Centre (CAMC) and made his intentions to remove the head of the cat with a spade known.

According to Perrins, the veterinary nurse at the CAMC "begged with him not to put the cat down, especially in the method that he intended to put the cat down".

"The veterinary nurse then phoned the SPCA's after-hours controller, the controller then contacted Mark (Sampson) and also discouraged him from putting the cat down, and offered to dispatch one of our emergency response vehicles," said Perrins.

In a previous report, Sampson said an operator at the SPCA unofficially advised him to put the cat down so it would not suffer.

"That is an out and out lie," said Perrins.

Perrins told Channel24 that based on the reports he has read, he believes Mark Sampson contravened the animal protection act.

'His spiritual side is dead'

Jeannot Nelson, the owner of the 18-month-old cat named Indica, told Channel24 she's relieved the incident is out in the open.

The incident took place on 25 October 2011.

"I feel a sense of gladness actually, that people know.

"He’s got a side to him which I don't think realises the enormity of (this). That side of him is dead. His spiritual side is probably lacking," said Nelson.

Nelson said she did not get to see her cat before Sampson buried the animal.

"We've got a neighbourhood watch and I put out to all my neighbours, 'please help me find my kitty' on a poster, and then one of my neighbours said to me 'You know Mark Sampson's dogs got hold of a cat last week, why don't you ask him', so I went over and he actually told me he had done it.

"He didn't know it was my cat," said Nelson.

The owner said although Sampson has apologised and given sympathy, "he hasn't acknowledged that what he did was incorrect".

Nelson has collected statements from various parties which she will present when opening a docket against Sampson.

Numerous attempts by Channel24 to contact Mark Sampson were unanswered.

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