A beloved rescue cat that was threatened with eviction will remain at the facility after thousands of people called on management to reverse its decision.
The beloved dog, Defib, was rescued as a kitten by staff at Walthamstow Ambulance Station in 2008 and still lives there today.
However, the cat was at risk of eviction due to “infection control/concerns” raised by the new management team of the London Ambulance Service (LAS), the NHS trust responsible for running the station in north-east London.
In response, hospital workers started a petition calling on Defib to “live out his remaining years in the place he knew and loved” for most of his life.
It collected over 62,000 signatures in four days, prompting LAS chief executive Daniel Elkeles to announce today that Defib is not going anywhere.
The beloved dog, Defib (pictured), was rescued as a kitten by staff at Walthamstow Ambulance Station in 2008 and still lives there today
LAS chief executive Daniel Elkeles has announced that Defib is not going anywhere
Writing on X, Mr Elkeles said: “I have heard all the opinions about the Defib cat. I believe my team tried to make the best decision for both Defib and our entire staff.
“I have listened to the views of the public and many of our staff and we have now agreed that Defib can remain at Walthamstow Ambulance Station.
“Defib is very well-liked by staff at Walthamstow Ambulance Station and has clearly won the hearts of the public too.”
The decision was warmly welcomed by social media users, with one writing: “A fantastic decision has been made.”
Another said: “Yes, there are much bigger problems in the world. But we all need a little joy in our lives – including at work – and that’s how you stay human by being a leader, and you step back gracefully. Good stuff.
The trust told MailOnline yesterday that the eviction would be aimed at Defib’s safety.
It was found that as the cat got older, it narrowly avoided being hit by an ambulance several times.
However, according to the campaign website, staff felt that rehoming such an old cat was an “unnecessary and unjustifiable act of cruelty.”
Cat is currently facing eviction due to ‘infection control/concerns’ expressed following a recent change in management (pictured: Walthamstow Ambulance Station)
It read: ‘Unlike many cats in London, he was lucky to be rescued by staff as a kitten and has been adored by them ever since. Staff believe that rehoming such an old cat is an unnecessary act of cruelty and unjustifiable, especially in light of the recent popularity of therapy animals on business premises.
“We hope you will support the staff in asking LAS to help him live out his remaining years in a place he knows and where he is loved.”
One person working in the area took to social media to state that the station had not received any allergy complaints.
Jessica Rogers wrote: “So after 16 years the station cat needs to be evicted due to “infection control/allergy concerns” for which no complaints have been received. Please sign! (petition) He is the sweetest and brings endless cheer to the hardworking frontline staff.”
After hearing today’s news, Mrs Rogers wrote: ‘It has been confirmed that the cat can remain at the station following defibrillation and live out its remaining years there following an outpouring of support from the public and discussions with the team on site. Well done everyone.