The council will meet with a RSPCA representative next week to discuss the issue that has taken a life of its own on social media, including an online petition that has more than 40,000 supporters.

It comes as new information has been revealed into the incident where Saviour was mistakenly placed into a freezer at the Glenfield Road Animal Shelter whilst still alive.

The Daily Advertiser understands Saviour had been dropped off at the facility on March 7, 2015. A ranger was carrying the kitten from the office to the cattery when Saviour was spooked by a dog.

The 12-week-old bit the ranger so badly that the kitten’s tooth was lodged in the handler’s hand, who knocked out the cat while attempting to place the it in a cage. The motionless kitten was put into a cage. A different ranger placed Saviour into a freezer, believing the feline was deceased.

Council general manager Alan Eldridge said last week there was “no evidence” to support allegations that any other cats had been put in freezers at the facility while alive.

Cr Kendall said a number of actions have been implemented since the Saviour incident 12 months ago, including providing bedding for dogs so they are not on the concrete floor and holding animals at the facility for much longer than the guidelines require, which is seven days for unregistered animals and 14 days for registered.

“We’ve been keeping animals for more than a month,” Cr Kendall said. “But pet owners need to be responsible and collect their animals at the earliest possible time.”

Closed-circuit television for the facility has been discussed.

Councillor Kendall said those who have reacted on social media could help the situation by getting on the front foot and adopting an animal to help out rescue groups who are stretched to the limit.

“Contact the pound and rescue a dog or cat.”