Police in Belfast have launched an online appeal for a missing cat that is "believed to have been brought in" by someone who is now "refusing to return him".
The appeal, posted on the South Belfast PSNI Facebook page, prompted some commentary on the social media site as people debated the merits of spending "tax payers' money" trying to find the pet.
Police say the cat, Dobby, has been missing since March 19 and is believed to have been brought in by "someone in the Ormeau Road area".
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In the appeal, a spokesperson for the PSNI in South Belfast said: "Police are looking for information in relation to a missing cat.
"Dobby was last seen on Wednesday 19th March at his home in the Lower Ormeau Road area. It is believed that Dobby has been brought in by someone in the Ormeau Road area who is refusing to return him."
The spokesperson added: "If anyone has any information on Dobby or his whereabouts please contact Police using 101 and quoting serial 570 of 22/03/25."
Responding to the PSNI post on Facebook, one commenter wrote: "Seriously !!! This is the best way taxpayers money is being spent on police time?"
Another commenter wrote: "Actually wise up! It's a cat! Now, yes, I feel sorry for its owners but why is the police taking anything to do with this or posting it on Facebook when there are actual crimes happening!"
Others took a different view of the PSNI's efforts to find missing Dobby, and came to the defence of the police service.
"They’re helping the community & solving a crime, what else do you want them to do," one commenter wrote. "It’s not as if this cat situation takes the whole station and a full week for them to solve."
Another wrote: "If someone stole your dog would you not ring the police? Of course you would. I hope Dobby's family get him back."
And another commenter said: "This is a family pet. Have a bit of respect for the young children who want their cat home."
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