Cat killers take note... - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Lebenz · #1 05-09-2005, 11:03 AM

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

GermanStar · #2 05-09-2005, 11:07 AM

On the other hand, Kitty Cannon.

Lebenz · #3 05-09-2005, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by narwhal

Tracy, by "cat killers", I take it to mean that you hold the owners of the dog responsible for either training the dog to kill cats, or allowing a dog they knew liked to kill cats negligently tresspass on the victim's property?

Thanks setting back all the positive points I was trying to make about the justice system.

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......

boneheaddoctor · #4 05-09-2005, 12:42 PM

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

koop · #5 05-09-2005, 12:58 PM

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.

boneheaddoctor · #6 05-09-2005, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by koop

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.....

MTI · #7 05-09-2005, 01:42 PM

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

boneheaddoctor · #8 05-09-2005, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MTI

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...

#9 05-09-2005, 02:10 PM

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

#10 05-09-2005, 02:18 PM

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.

GermanStar · #11 05-09-2005, 02:33 PM

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

Kuan · #12 05-09-2005, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MedMech

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

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.

boneheaddoctor · #13 05-09-2005, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaulC

Now who is to say if a cat is feral or not? What's to prevent me from barging into Aunt Mamie's house to dispatch Fluffy, a surly and aloof little turd, with my Mossberg?

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

boneheaddoctor · #14 05-09-2005, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaulC

Then he can kiss his little butt goodbye.

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

MTI · #15 05-09-2005, 03:18 PM

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

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