John Newland--Doh!
Just landed in Atlanta and I got this news item from Blue Lizard Blog. The worm has turned somewhat on the Texas cat shooting case. Remember how the bridge worker argued that the cats were his pets and that was the reason Jim Stevenson should not have shot them. Well, that reasoning has just turned around and bit the bridge worker in the butt according to this story from the Galveston County Daily News:
GALVESTON — For about five years, John Newland has fed a clan of cats near the San Luis Pass Bridge where he worked.
Newland said he never had problems, until November 2006 when island bird-lover Jim Stevenson shot one of the cats. A year later, charges against Stevenson were dropped after a deadlocked jury.
Now, Newland himself is headed to court as a defendant in a criminal case.
Last week, city animal control officer Leroy Cooper issued Newland a misdemeanor citation, accusing him of keeping too many animals.
The charge carries a possible fine of up to $500.
Newland is set for court next Monday before Preceinct 1 Justice of the Peace Jim Schweitzer.
Newland said the feedings have been going on for years.
“These cats have been here longer than we have,” he said. “They keep us company, and no one had ever told us it was against the law to feed an animal that was hungry.”
However, Galveston police Lt. Mike Riedel said the feedings were against the law, because 15 to 20 cats had been eating the food Newland put out for them. A Galveston ordinance bars a person from keeping more than four cats or dogs, and Riedel said that feeding the animals made Newland responsible for them.
“The cats are breeding like crazy, and there are health and safety concerns, because he’s not getting them fixed, he’s not even taking them to the vet. He’s just feeding them,” Riedel said. “I know he thinks he’s taking care of the cats, but he’s just making the problem worse.”
Attorney Tad Nelson represented Stevenson at his animal-cruelty trial, which ended in a jury deadlock in November.
Nelson praised law enforcement for pursuing a case against Newland.
“It’s a tough position to take, but I’m proud of the city for doing this because it’s the right thing to do,” Nelson said. “As lovable as Mr. Newland is, he is naive to think he’s benefitting those cats.”
Stevenson, president of the Galveston Ornithological Society, faced a charge of cruelty to animals for shooting the cat near the San Luis Pass bridge.
The crux of the case was whether the cat was feral or domesticated, as the animal-cruelty law under which he was prosecuted applied in cases in which an animal’s owner did not consent to the animal being harmed.
Newland said he suspected Stevenson of complaining to police about him feeding the cats. But Riedel said Stevenson had nothing to do with Newland being ticketed.
Riedel also said he would prefer to charge the people at the root of the cat problem.
“The people who dump those cats off, the original owners who abandon them out there, that’s who I’d like to get,” he said.
Bridge worker gets citation for too many cats
GALVESTON — For about five years, John Newland has fed a clan of cats near the San Luis Pass Bridge where he worked.
Newland said he never had problems, until November 2006 when island bird-lover Jim Stevenson shot one of the cats. A year later, charges against Stevenson were dropped after a deadlocked jury.
Now, Newland himself is headed to court as a defendant in a criminal case.
Last week, city animal control officer Leroy Cooper issued Newland a misdemeanor citation, accusing him of keeping too many animals.
The charge carries a possible fine of up to $500.
Newland is set for court next Monday before Preceinct 1 Justice of the Peace Jim Schweitzer.
Newland said the feedings have been going on for years.
“These cats have been here longer than we have,” he said. “They keep us company, and no one had ever told us it was against the law to feed an animal that was hungry.”
However, Galveston police Lt. Mike Riedel said the feedings were against the law, because 15 to 20 cats had been eating the food Newland put out for them. A Galveston ordinance bars a person from keeping more than four cats or dogs, and Riedel said that feeding the animals made Newland responsible for them.
“The cats are breeding like crazy, and there are health and safety concerns, because he’s not getting them fixed, he’s not even taking them to the vet. He’s just feeding them,” Riedel said. “I know he thinks he’s taking care of the cats, but he’s just making the problem worse.”
Attorney Tad Nelson represented Stevenson at his animal-cruelty trial, which ended in a jury deadlock in November.
Nelson praised law enforcement for pursuing a case against Newland.
“It’s a tough position to take, but I’m proud of the city for doing this because it’s the right thing to do,” Nelson said. “As lovable as Mr. Newland is, he is naive to think he’s benefitting those cats.”
Stevenson, president of the Galveston Ornithological Society, faced a charge of cruelty to animals for shooting the cat near the San Luis Pass bridge.
The crux of the case was whether the cat was feral or domesticated, as the animal-cruelty law under which he was prosecuted applied in cases in which an animal’s owner did not consent to the animal being harmed.
Newland said he suspected Stevenson of complaining to police about him feeding the cats. But Riedel said Stevenson had nothing to do with Newland being ticketed.
Riedel also said he would prefer to charge the people at the root of the cat problem.
“The people who dump those cats off, the original owners who abandon them out there, that’s who I’d like to get,” he said.
posted by birdchick at 3:24 PM
6 Comments:
Wow, that made my day. Well-meaning but clueless people like this guy really need to have their eyes opened to the harm they're doing by feeding all those unfixed cats. Talk about compounding an already serious problem!
Though, again, not that I think a $500 penalty is nearly severe enough. *sigh*
klia
Why doesn't he get charged with animal cruelty?
I'd have thought encouraging ferals near the endangered sp would be actionable as well if we want to pile on the guy. I suspect he's well meaning but clueless as klia says though and hope this leads to an end to the whole sorry saga.
The final comment that of “The people who dump those cats off, the original owners who abandon them out there, that’s who I’d like to get,” he said." Is the most important.
Negligent pet owners(non owners?) are rampant. What does this case do? Prove that one person was well meaning but in the wrong; the other guy (who shot the cat) was well meaning but also in the wrong.
What is it they say about the road to hell...?
This entire story is sad for all parties concerned. I really didn't like the way it was portrayed "cat lovers vs bird lovers" either; all that did was exacerbate an all ready hot subject.
All cats that are outdoor cats are not killers or wanton un-fixed breeders. Nor are all birds endangered.
What is the real issue here and how can it be properly addressed without this polarization?
Changes must be made on the city and state levels. Those cities and states are made up of all us people; WE are all responsible for both the cat feeder & the cat shooter.
Luckily; we have blogs like this one (and many others) who promote reform and give helpful, meaningful advice for those who may not otherwise know what the proper action should be. It's one thing to have a huge animal loving heart; quite another to have the knowledge of responsibility to go along with it. Thank you birdchick for ever increasing our knowledge of our beloved birds!
Stacy
It will be interesting to see how this plays out. He could argue that the jury's non-verdict in the shooting case shows that he doesn't actually own the cats. But that would be difficult due to his testimony in support of that case. Apparently he has the services of a good lawyer.
yee-ouch!
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