The Otago Student Animal Legal Defense Fund has called on the council to stop allowing dead cats to be dumped without first being scanned for microchips.
Fund representative Rachel Stedman said Downers was contracted to dispose of cats found in Dunedin but it had no microchip scanners and had refused to log descriptions of found cats.
''They have no regulations regarding managing deceased cats.''
Last week the ODT published the story of Dunedin student Chelsea Evans, whose cat Patrick was dumped at a landfill by Downers staff after the animal was found dead near where she lives in The Glen.
Ms Evans (21) said her cat had only been missing a week and she was "gobsmacked" to learn of Patrick's fate.
While the fund appreciated the desire to remove cats from the roadside, Ms Stedman said the council could do more to offer their ''human companions'' a chance to retrieve their bodies.
''The Dunedin public donates significant support to the SPCA, who endeavour to return cats to their homes. This is a clear indication of public interest in the matter.
''The DCC should have a duty to scan any deceased cat for a microchip, advertise any found number, and search for the cat in the New Zealand Companion Animal Register.''
She said the council had been urged to adopt such a policy, which would not require any complex legislative process.
It would acknowledge the distress of those who have lost cats but taken the diligent step of having them microchipped.
The council recently proposed to Local Government New Zealand a policy that would include mandatory microchipping of cats and a database.
At present, cats, including wild cats, are not managed by the council. Stray cats are left to the SPCA to deal with.
She said the fund was pleased to see the council beginning to recognise a need for appropriate cat management.
''Their proposal is essential to ensure responsible cat ownership, leading to increased control over disease, public health and safety, and harm to native species.''
Council transport group manager Richard Saunders said the council was aware of concerns about the issue.
''We're having a look at our processes to make sure deceased animals are handled in the most appropriate way.''
