It's Caturday!

Cat Returned After Year-Long Court Battle

POSTED: 11:52 am PST December 11, 2008
UPDATED: 5:27 pm PST December 11, 2008



PORTLAND, Ore. -- A court battle between neighbors over a Siamese cat that lasted for more than a year was resolved Monday, according to court documents.

A court ruled last week that Hudetz and Opp had to return the cat Monday after they'd had him for more than 16 months, according to court documents.

The case began when Donnella Whitacre alleged that her neighbors Rosemarie Opp and Larry Hudetz stole her 4-year-old cat named Merlin in July 2007.

In November 2007, Whitacre filed a lawsuit against the two, trying to force them to return Merlin after other methods to get her cat back had failed.

Whitacre said originally the neighboring couple fell in love with Merlin, and so she agreed to let them visit him, but she never expected them to take the cat.

“All my life, I’ve taken care of animals. I love them. They’re members of my family. This is like someone coming into the park, looking at my kid and saying, ‘You know, I really like that kid. I’m taking him home,'” Whitacre said in November 2007.

Whitacre and the couple reached an agreement in which the couple returns the cat and all other aspects of the lawsuit are dropped, according to court documents.​

Video

:catroar:
 
Is this one of those people that allows the cat to go outdoors? Or did they break into her house?
 
They said in the video that it had been an indoor/outdoor cat, but that the owner said it would be a strictly indoor cat after they got her back.
 
It's still not Caturday, but I didn't want to wait (and maybe forget) to post this story tomorrow. This woman needs to be ... something. I can't even think of anything evil enough this early in the day.

Woman accused of trying to sell 'gothic kittens'
Pet groomer marketed felines with ear, neck and tail piercings on eBay

updated 4:22 p.m. ET, Thurs., Dec. 18, 2008
WILKES-BARRE, Pa. - Humane officers said a Pennsylvania woman marketed "gothic kittens" with ear, neck and tail piercings over the Internet. Officers with the SPCA of Luzerne County removed three kittens and a cat from a home outside Wilkes-Barre.

Officer Carol Morrison said the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals raided the home on Wednesday after getting a tip that the woman was selling the pierced kittens on eBay.

"It's unbelievable anybody would do this to kittens," Morrison said.

Charges are likely against the homeowner, whose name was not released.

Morrison said the woman has a pet grooming business in the basement of the home.​
 
I don't understand why the woman with the stolen cat just didn't call the police? I thought you could file a report and get stolen "property" back that way. Especially if the cat had been microchipped.

Anyhow, what a twisted thing to do - steal your neighbor's cat!! Totally weird. :eek: Get your own kitty, it's not like there's a shortage.
 
This truly is sad but at the same time, the irony just about has to create at least a snicker...

Mice suspected in fire that killed cats
Published: Dec. 19, 2008 at 9:14 AM
OSHAWA, Ontario, Dec. 19 (UPI) -- Preliminary investigation into a Canadian Humane Society shelter fire that killed almost 100 cats suggests it was caused by mice gnawing on wires.

The blaze broke out at the unmanned Durham Region Humane Society shelter in Oshawa, east of Toronto, around 2 a.m. Wednesday. Firefighters were only able to rescue nine dogs and two cats because the fire was well-developed when they arrived.

Initially, officials said 180 cats died of smoke inhalation, but after a body count the number was lowered to about 100, along with three dogs, several rabbits and rodents, the Toronto Star reported Friday.

Damages were estimated at $250,000, shelter manager Ruby Richards told the newspaper from a temporary office. She said there has been a national outpouring of support with donations streaming in to the Web site, along with offers of temporary locations, food and supplies.

"It's been crazy here," Richards said. "People are very upset and some people have just been crying on the phone."

She said it appears the fire started in the ceiling, and investigators believe an electrical short was caused by mice chewing on electrical wires.​
 
Another weird kitty story...this one will shock and anger any animal lover out there.

"Gothic Kittens" for sale

ROSS TWP. – Three kittens with ear, neck and tail piercings were removed from a home by humane officers on Wednesday.

Wayne Harvey, SPCA kennel attendant, holds a kitten that was taken from a home in Ross Township on Wednesday.

One of the officers from the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals of Luzerne County said the pierced kittens were being sold as “gothic kittens” on an Internet auction site.

“This is a first,” said Officer Carol Morrison. “It’s unbelievable anybody would do this to kittens.”

Morrison said the investigation began about a week ago when a man from another state noticed “gothic kittens” being sold on eBay. The kittens were also being sold on a pet classified Web site with an attached picture of a pierced kitten.

“You’re not allowed to sell live animals on eBay,” Morrison said.

The man called the phone number that was listed with the kittens, and traveled to the home at 71 Dobson Road, where he saw the pierced kittens, Morrison said.

“He called us and explained what he saw,” Morrison said.

Morrison and two humane officers obtained a search warrant for the home from District Judge John Hasay in Shickshinny at about 3:30 p.m.

Assisted by the state police at Shickshinny, the humane officers traveled to the home located at the end of a long driveway in a remote area of Ross Township.

Humane officers and troopers were inside the home for more than an hour before removing three kittens and a cat just before 5:30 p.m.

“She (the homeowner) thought it was a great idea (to pierce kittens),” Morrison said.

Morrison said charges are likely to be filed against the homeowner.

A dog inside the home was also found with pierced ears, Morrison said.

Morrison said the homeowner has a pet grooming business in the basement of the residence. Several signs advertising “Pawside Parlor” were along Dobson Road and in front of the home.

The kittens also had submission rings placed in their tails, Morrison said, explaining that the rings would prevent blood flow, causing the tails to fall off.

The homeowner and a young girl were inside the home. After humane officers removed the kittens in cages, the window shades were closed and interior lights were turned off.

Morrison said the kittens will be checked by a veterinarian before deciding if the kittens will be placed for adoption.





Click thru to the article for pictures http://www.timesleader.com/news/Pierced_kittens_removed_from_home_12-17-2008.html
 
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