To summarize the story for you, founder of the Galveston Ornithological Society, James M. Stevenson, shot and killed a cat that lived under the San Luis Pass toll bridge that connects Galveston to mainland Texas. An avid birder, he felt that the cat (and other wild animals) were feeding on the endangered piping plovers in the area – so he took matters into his own hands.
The state law at the time of the incident prohibited killing a cat "belonging to another," but it was changed on Sept. 1 to include all cats regardless of ownership. Although the cat was living under the bridge, Mama Cat was named and cared for by a toll collector, John Newland. Opening arguments began on Nov. 13 for the case where Stevenson faces up to two years in jail and a $10,000 fine if convicted on animal cruelty charges.
It's a very polarizing suit, with animal lovers often feeling for both sides. I'm curious to hear how you feel about this:
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I think killing a cat (or animal) - no matter the situation - is uncalled for. I'm sure there are more humane ways to deal with the situation other then resorting to killing...
1Lock this man up in jail along with Michael Vick and they can beat the crap out of each other. I'm sorry, but that just pisses me off.
2That angers me beyond all belief! How dare he decide
3that kitty had no right to live! I hope they throw
the book at him! Then he should be forced to work at
a shelter. If the collect any fines from him I hope
the give it too the local shelter in Mama kitty's
honor.
I'm sure the piping plovers aren't endangered because cats and other wildlife are hunting them...Perhaps it's humans who are to blame for that? It's not like the kitty was malicious in her quest for food, to her, it was just that, food. That guy is an idiot and I hope he gets the maximum sentence.
4I think that the punishment may be slightly severe for the crime. And I'm definitely an animal lover. That said...he could have taken the cat to a shelter.
5I appreciate he felt bad for the birds but the cat was just doing what is natural. If he really wanted to do something to stop it he could have taken the cat to a shelter or rescue group. He's not animal control and doesn't get to decide which animals live or die.
6I agree with baltimoregal...maybe explore other options before killing the poor cat. Jeeze.
7It really upsets me when people get angry and hurt or kill animals that are just doing what instinct tells them.
I have a cat that was a stray and very street smart. I know she has gotten a couple of birds. I have two parakeets and she is very interested in them but I don't get mad at her, she's a cat! I have just made sure to put the birds where she can't get close to the cage.
8I live in the Netherlands and they shot a bird (endangered by the way) a while ago because it was in the hall where they were gonna do an attempt at breaking the world record in domino's. The bird knocked over some stones so they shot it.
9And this one is just as stupid, a cat is a cat, can't do anything about it!!!!
Throw the book at him. The Toll Collector was his owner and what kind of law is that? You can now kill any cat that's outside. What if your cat accidentally goes out and your neighbor down the street shoots it. What do you tell the kids? OMG! Don't move to Texas people. They are nuts!
10Leop we don't want a jerk like that here!
There is absolutely NO reason that man had for killing the cat. Well, no valid reason. It is forbidden to take the law into your hands a la vigilante for human crimes, so why does he think he has the right to take this into his own hands. BOO on him! Throw the book at him!
11I'm generally not a fan of going around shooting things for any reason. However, there's no denying that in some places, high numbers of feral cats are starting to mess up the local ecosystems, causing problems for small prey animal species and the smaller predators who depend on them. I don't know if that's the case with the plovers in Galveston, but I can see this guy's perspective--once the plovers are gone, they're gone forever, and there's clearly no shortage of housecats. The only problem is that cats are cuddly and cute--not too many people raise a fuss when the folks down in Australia kill cane toads (another non-native species wreaking ecological havoc), because nobody wants to cuddle with a ginormous toad.
That being said, the man was an idiot to just shoot the cat. He had no way of knowing if it was a beloved pet or a random stray. As several posters have mentioned, he had other options. Should he be sent to prison for being as dumb as a post? Probably not. Should he be fined? Probably. Should folks who are interested in the welfare of endangered species try to find humane yet effective means of dealing with the damage caused by non-native species? Definitely.
Good luck to the plovers.
12Acemonkey- You took the words right out of my mouth!!!!!
13throw away the keys!!!!
14What a jerk! So what is he going to go around killing every single cat now for possible risk of eating a bird? Put him away.
15If the toll collector was feeding the cat, then it wasn't starving and eating all the birds. Sure, it probably killed a few, but that's what cats do. Guilty.
16wow. that is disgusting. don't they call that playing god then he decides what animals live and which ones die? there are other ways to resolve things other than killing! it seems like killing things is the go-to way to deal with things around here. sad.
17who ever voted no guilty is sick
18If people would take responsibility to fix their animals and not abandon their pets, this whole thing never would have come to a head. I am upset that this man took it into his own hands to destroy the cat for doing what came naturally, but I am more upset at all the people out there not being responsible pet owners so that these types of situations happen in the first place.
19There is no leash law for cats in most of this country. He had no right to kill it. If the birds are stupid enough (Highly unlikely) not to get out of the way of a cat, then they'd die. Sad - but part of life. Man cannot take matters like this into his own hands. Here's another disturbing though ... did Mama Cat have kittens? And if so, did they survive the loss of their mother? Throw the book at him!
20I have to agree with you ClassicsDiva. I am an animal lover and I think that what he did was wrong but I don't think he should go to jail. Should he be fined? Sure - the maximum amount. Should he have to serve time? I think it would be better served at a shelter. He should also be educated about animal cruelty through some sort of mandatory course.
21I have one more thing to add...if the toll collector was "taking care" of the cat then why was it living under a bridge? As choco-cat said - peeps should start taking responsibility for their pets!
22The guy should be guilty for shooting the cat regardless of his reasoning. Jailed and fined so as to not cause others to react the same way.
23He should have proven that the Cat was eating those endangered birds. Innocent until proven guilty should apply to other species not only humans.
I'm going to have to take the cat's side on this one. I am all for protecting endangered species, but shooting an animal when there are so many other options really muddles the message. "I love these little birds so much that I am going to annihilate all other living creatures." How is that showing concern for living creatures? It's not like the plovers were being threatened by a coyote or a rabid raccoon. It was a cat. That said, I think a stiff fine and time served should be enough. Maybe a ton of hours community service at a cat shelter.
24A cat eating a bird for food (despite it being endangered or not) is COMPLETELY different than some guy shooting a cat because it's killing birds. Ugh. That makes me sick that he would do something like that.
25I don't think he gets the right to choose AND KILL one animal species over the other. While there might not be quite the uproar if it wasn't a cute little cat, I just don't think it should matter. I think the biggest problem is what is going on in his head that he went to that drastic of a measure.
26I understand what stray cats, or even outside cats can do to bird populations. Feral cats can wipe out entire areas, it’s why you should spay and neuter. I am not sure the law in this city as to outside cats (in my city they must be collared, although I would never let mine outside because of cars and or dumb people like this dude) no person has the right to take matters in their own hands and Kill an animal. The only time that is justified in my eyes, is if that animal is attacking a human being.
This guy needs to go to jail.
27Who does he think he is? Who made him ruler of ecology?
28The end certainly does not justify the means. Yes, endangered animals need protecting but you can't just go around killing other animals to protect them. How many birds could this one cat possibly kill? Not enough to wipe out an entire species.
29im deadlocked
30animals have to do what they have to do to survive
cat has to eat
that being said i can see his distress at the endangered animal getting preyed upon
BUT
how did he know the cat was actually preying on the birds?
PLUS
he could have found another way
found a shelter or something
update- there was a mistrial
31http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iET-WfF6oagPV8z66KbYIVxBc3gQD8SUVDEO1
He was taking care of the cat... meaning that he found the cat there, and started to feed it. It wasn't his cat persay... and I know a lot of strays in this area wouldn't let me take them home with me.
32This makes me sick to my stomach.
33I agree that the ferral animal population is a big threat to many native ecosystems around the U.S. I understand that the bird is endangered and need protection from the ferral animals that hunt them. I can see his perspective on this.
That being said, I don't ever condone killing an animal, ferral or other unless it is an immediate danger to you or another person. The man had plenty of other options. Shelter, adoption, move it to another location away from the birds.
34Mmmm, dumb as a rock, and *armed*. Idiot should have taken one minute to think and gotten the cat taken to a shelter.
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