Cat killers take note...
 

Judge awards $45,480 in cat's death

By Warren Cornwall and Craig Welch
Seattle Times staff reporters

Paula Roemer knows most people don't understand her passion for animals.

Some of her North Seattle neighbors aren't thrilled about the crows she attracts to her back yard with bird seed, she says. When she rescued a scraggly kitten abandoned on a pathway while she was vacationing in Israel 13 years ago, people reacted with disdain.

So when a neighbor's dog mauled and killed that same beloved cat, Yofi, last year, Roemer barely mentioned it to people she knew. But now she feels that she found one person who understood: a judge.

Last week, Seattle District Court Judge Barbara Linde ordered the dog's owner to pay $45,480.12 to Roemer for the cat's death.

"Not too many [people] value a cat," said Roemer, a retired, 71-year-old former junior-high-school teacher, who lives alone except for her animals. "You know what I'm saying: 'It's just a cat.' And I'm very, very thankful we had a judge who knew that a cat had some value."

The judgment may be among the largest amounts nationwide in lawsuits over the loss of pets, according to Roemer's attorney, Adam Karp of Bellingham, a specialist in cases involving animals.

"I do think it's the largest in our state for any type of animal, excluding, say, a Thoroughbred or other commercially valuable pets, or service animals," Karp said. "And I'm pretty sure it's the largest for a cat."

In 2003, a Snohomish County couple was awarded $25,000 in emotional damages when someone who was supposed to care for a horse and goats instead sold them for slaughter.

In a recent Texas case, the owner of a Mini-Schnauzer was awarded $10,000 in emotional distress when the dog escaped from a Petco grooming parlor and was hit by a car, according to Associated Press reports. In one New York case, the court found that a good dog's value increased with age, and its owner should be compensated accordingly upon the pet's untimely death.

The defendant in the cat case, Wallace Gray, pleaded guilty to an animal-control violation last October in Seattle Municipal Court. Court documents say he admitted that his dog killed a neighbor's cat in February 2004 "due in part to my negligence."

Gray said he just learned of the financial judgment yesterday from a reporter. "This is way out of hand. This is absolutely crazy," he said.

Gray said he had already served 21 days in jail and three months under house arrest for the animal-control violation. He wasn't living in the house with his dog at the time of the attack, he said, and the acquaintance who was taking care of his dog left town before the trial.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2002268301_yofi09m.html

On the other hand, Kitty Cannon.

I‘m surprised at your response, narwhal, being as you so typically favor heavy handed payback that masquerades as justice. It seems a clearly stated case of arrogant negligence on the part of the pet owner leading to murder. While the combined days in jail and the fine are extreme, given that so many folks could not give a chit about their neighbors property, including beloved animals, it is one of the few good things I've seen come out of government actions recently. I applaud the result and take delight at the implications for folks who let their dogs run free and terrorize neighborhoods. I only wish the same punitive measures would be more generally enforced for those who disrupt the peace, trespass, hunt on private property......

I think Leash laws should be applied to cats....same with liscenses.....and shoot any animal found loose without a collar..........

There is something screwy about that case. 21 days in jail and three months house arrest? And he didn't even live there or have control of the dog? That just doesn't happen.

Well it did happen on the left coast.....and Washington state is known for doing some really stupid things of late.....

Wisconsin apparently was taking steps for feral kitty hunting season to open soon.

Woo Hoo........got to go up there and bag me a few to get stuffed and mounted...

---------------------sss--------------------------------------

Somethings missing here, how can a dog or dogs owner be negligent for killing or maiming a kitty cat in on their own property?

If that's the case a bunch of cat owners should be prosecuted for killing song birds, which there is no open season.

I think the main point of the article is to cuddle with fellow cat lovers that are guilty of letting their cats crap in every kids sandbox on the block and killing song birds.

Footprints on your hood is all the proof you'll require.

The dog escaped and killed the cat in the cat's yard. I guess the moral of the story here is that you are responsible for your own property. The guy didn't even show up to court to defend himself.

Thats why the leash laws and having a cat license and collar should be required......No collor = legitimat target.

Antifreeze in a saucer on top the car should intice the little car scratcher. While keeping it safe from the local pooches...

Once "Fluffy" gets it . . . can "Spot" be far behind?

http://www.190revolution.net/prem/mti/shootdog.jpg

only if "Spot" climbs up on cars....if spot has no collar or liscense then he is far game.......that would keep strays in check.

All pets wear a liscense and collar of they are fair targets out doors.

Never had...
 

A cat wake me up in the middle of the night barking
A cat chase me on my bike
A car touch its cold nose against my leg
A cat attack a child
A cat pee on the header pipe of my motorcycle (THE worst smell when they get hot)
A cat chase my dog up a tree


Can you tell which side of the fence I'm on?

If cats were bigger, there would be a balence of power.

From what I understand, the dog got out of its yard, and killed the cat. If that is the case, the dog owner is responsible for the dog's actions. As I feel this way, my yard is like fort knox to my dogs. I have digging barriers around the perimeter of the yard, and a 6 foot fence to keep them in. My gates are also padlocked so nobody can accidentally on purposely "let them out."

My now departed wolfdog got several of my neighbours cats. Every one of them wandered into my yard. Their attitude was like, "oh well, kitty shouldn't have went in there."

I also have two cats, and they are permanently indoor cats. Indoor cats are the only ones that stay in the area in which they belong.

Cats are less than worthless when it comes to home protection. I sleep quite well at night with these two around:

I HAVE had a cat (several cats) crap under my porch, in my garage, and under my shed all summer long. That has to be the most unpleasant smell in the world. Furthermore, there are NO birds or squirrels left to feed in my yard. This is all thanks to a neighbor who started putting food out for all the neighborhood strays when he moved in a couple of years ago. It's barely cracked 80 degrees here and the stench is overwhelming. The humane society is going to get a call tomorrow for a bunch of live traps, or I'll consider busting out the pellet gun.

Bonehead--I haven't had the opportunity to ask a telemarketer for any cat recipes yet. I will let you know when the chance comes. Maybe we will get lucky and get a recipe. :D

You may get one if the telemarketer is working out of China............

I would set out several bowls of anti-freeze.....the problem will take care of itself soon afterwards.

I hear they do eat cat in China. Cat-Fooey anyone.

Actually they don't eat cat.....they eat dogs (which is upsetting) although that is pretty dang rare...although when I was there I stayed away from the markets. :eek:

For the most part it's a lot of cooked fish and vegetables.

They eat anything they can catch.........and I mean anything.....

General Tso's Cat.........Cat foo yung.........sweet and sour cat.........twice cooked cat.......cat with broccoli......mmmm...mmmmm good.

OK Fine, the guy should be responsible. I think $48K is a little steep but I'm not the judge.

That's hilarious.

Although it is way down on my list of intruder deterrents, I am not above throwing a cat at anyone in my house uninvited. How's that for less than worthless.

How about something Japanese.........


A littly Kitty Tempura.......


Kitty sushi....

Teriaki Kitty.......

Not a whole lot of CHipmunks.....BUt I have squirls that are driving me nuts.........getting tired of hosing squiirel poop off my cars....

Have you tried being nicer to them. Maybe they know you want to kill them and make squirrel con queso.

I'd crap on your car too if I knew you wanted to kill me. Wait, no I wouldn't.

Noisy buggers those things are...........

I am shocked, shocked and appalled.....oh, I did manage to get up to 641 ft.

Cool.....I sent that one to my boss...

Cat Bathing As A Martial Art

A: Know that although the cat has the advantage of quickness and lack of concern for human life, you have the advantage of strength.

Capitalize on that advantage by selecting the battlefield. Don't try to bathe him in an open area where he can force you to chase him. Pick a very small bathroom.

If your bathroom is more than four feet square, I recommend that you get in the tub with the cat and close the sliding -glass doors as if you were about to take a shower. (A simple shower curtain will not do. A berserk cat can shred a three-ply rubber shower curtain quicker than a politician can shift positions.)

B. Know that a cat has claws and will not hesitate to remove all the skin from your body. Your advantage here is that you are smart and know how to dress to protect yourself.

I recommend canvas overalls tucked into high-top construction boots, a pair of steel-mesh gloves, an army helmet, a hockey face-mask, and a long-sleeved flak jacket.

C. Use the element of surprise. Pick up your cat nonchalantly, as if to simply carry him to his supper dish. (Cats will not usually notice your strange attire. They have little or no interest in fashion as a rule.)

D. Once you are inside the bathroom, speed is essential to survival. In a single liquid motion, shut the bathroom door, step into the tub enclosure, slide the glass door shut, dip the cat in the water and squirt him with shampoo.

You have now begun one of the longest and wildest 45 seconds of your life.

E. Cats have no handles. Add the fact that he now has soapy fur, and the problem is radically compounded.

Do not expect to hold on to him for more than two or three seconds at a time. When you have him, however, you must remember to give him another squirt of shampoo and rub like crazy.

He'll then spring free and fall back into the water, thereby rinsing himself off. (The national record for cats is three latherings, so don't expect too much.)

F. Next, the cat must be dried. Novice cat bathers always assume this part will be the most difficult, for humans generally are worn out at this point and the cat is just getting really determined.

In fact, the drying is simple compared with what you have just been through.

That's because by now the cat is semi-permanently affixed to your right leg.

You simply pop the drain plug with your foot, reach for your towel and wait. (Occasionally, however, the cat will end up clinging to the top of your army helmet. If this happens, the best thing you can do is to shake him loose and to encourage him toward your leg.) After all the water is drained from the tub, it is a simple matter to just reach down and dry the cat.

In a few days the cat will relax enough to be removed from your leg. He will usually have nothing to say for about three weeks and will spend a lot of time sitting with his back to you.

He might even become psychoceramic and develop the fixed stare of a plaster figurine.

You will be tempted to assume he is angry.

This isn't usually the case.
As a rule he is simply plotting ways to get through your defenses and injure you for life the next time you decide to give him a bath.
But at least now he smells a lot better

How about Mongolian Cat Stir Fry with water chestnuts and boc-choy?

Jeez I've seen it all, a bait thread morphed into a culinary thread.

I remember a show about Chinese culture and saw a group of college age kids viewing the little pussys before they ate it. Once they found the one they desired the chef took the hair off....warmed em up and down the hatch they went. Since cat's eat so much fish I bet they have a fishy taste.

http://www.messybeast.com/eat-cats.htm

It explains how to prepare cat for consumption which is boiling them alive, sorry but that's pretty darn morbid IMO.

I think the boiling alive thing only works for crustacians..........like good beef, cat needs to age a little before cooking.

But don't shoot if it has a bootlegged CD in it's mouth. That ain't stealin'.

Seems rather risky to own a pet. Someone else was taking care of the guy's dog and he goes to jail over a lousy cat??? :confused: Lame. How can that be a criminal matter? You should be able to get a cat like that at the pound for $5 not $30,000 dollars. The judge should be ashamed of itself. I can see if the dog was known to be viscious and it attacked a human but this is absurd. I would never want to live in a place like that. As far as I know the value of something is not set by how much an individual arbitrarily values it. $15000 worth of emotional duress over a cat seems reasonable for some people but that doesn't mean that every time someone gets worked up over something it should be worth money. I could see a couple hundred bucks depending on how egregious the owner's negligence was but geez. :rolleyes2

This is a hoax right?

Cats possess the lousy traits of many people. They kill for the fun of it; they are sneaky; they don't come around unless they want something from you. Where I live our leash laws include cats.

Around here the cats don't get liscensed or leashed.........but I believe they al should be...just like dogs.

Don't forget seasoning it with road gravel and tire tread.

Well the tire treads are from the tenderising ...........like the tenderizing hammer makes.........

Anyone for takeout?

http://imagehost.vendio.com/preview/...atinthebag.jpg


Na, let's have a nice wholesome meal at home...... Okay kitty, into the pot you go!

http://imagehost.vendio.com/preview/...uff2/kitty.jpg

MMMMM, Kitty Stew!

That's not take out. It's Shake-n-Bake and I helped!