As the owner now of two cats, I can't help but respond to this recent article that appeared in the New York Times. Apparently, a bird watcher shot a cat with a .22 calibre rifle because he believed it was killing the birds. He doesn't deny that he shot the cat. The point of contention in the suit is whether the cat was feral.
I don't know how the law treats questions of feralness (ferality?), but this sounds like a clear case of animal cruelty to me. We took in a stray kitten just this week, gave it a name the other night, and are slowly introducing it to our other cat -- who probably wishes he had a .22 in the closet right now that he could use on the small quadriped that's taking some attention away from him -- and I'd say this cat is no longer feral. She's quite comfortable living here, accepting our pets and attention in return for lots of purrs, soft mews, and an inordinate amount of methane gas. (Surely those field mice and moles have worked through you system by now, Oreo. What on earth is wrong with your intestines?!)
Beyond that, how can a man who loves animals shoot and kill a cat? Is he not human?
Humans care for those who are less fortunate than themslves, like Texas toll collector John Newland, who named Mama Cat. The cat lived under a toll bridge but gladly accepted food and toys and bedding from Mr. Newland. I won't get into the vitriolic debate between bird bloggers and cat bloggers, who are writing hateful posts about the other, but I'll say this: a man who would kill a defenseless animal (I don't think the claws and teeth were any threat to the admitted cat killer) is no better than a thief. He deserves punishment.
I don't think it's as heinous a crime as rape or murder of a person, but it's despicable and cannot be condoned. The two years and $10,000 he faces seem appropriate to me.
3 comments:
Matt-although Frank & I agree completely with you on this-it seems to me until the humans that run the gov't & who make the laws get a clue that animals especially pets such as dogs & cats (pigs-birds-ferrets you get the idea) should be treated with kindness & yes respect-people will get away with murder. As you know we're looking into adopting another dog & the stories we hear are horrible-no creature should have to endure it-when we ask what happened to the !@#$% who did the deed we almost always get a shrug or "well they basically got away with it"...how anyone can be called human and do what we all know is being done to these defenseless creatures is beyond us! May the devil keep poking them with his pitchfork when they get to live with him...
Good luck with the puppy or dog acquisition, you two. Riley and Oreo are starting to get along like great friends, and we couldn't be happier about it.
Matt: I just sent Reenie a pic...its a boy! His name is Rocket and he couldn't be cuter! He comes "home" next week! We can only hope that after some transitional time Buddy & Payton will get along with him as well as Riley and Orea have....what a family! More pics to come!
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