Mistrial for birdwatching cat killer

[The Straight Story]

Mistrial for birdwatching cat killer

November 17, 2007

By Kate Murphy The New York Times

A judge in Galveston, Texas, declared a mistrial Friday in the case of a bird enthusiast who killed a cat that he said was stalking endangered birds. Jurors said they were hopelessly deadlocked.

"I'm not surprised," said the defendant, James M. Stevenson, founder of the Galveston Ornithological Society who was charged with one count of animal cruelty for shooting the cat last November with a .22-caliber rifle. "It reflects the attitudes of people in the United States — there are cat lovers and others who love biodiversity, including birds."

The jury had voted 8-4 in favor of conviction, jurors said.

The case prompted a change in Texas law to protect cats, regardless of whether they have an owner. At the time of the shooting, it was a crime to kill only a cat "belonging to another." As a result, whether the cat was feral was a crucial issue in the trial.

The prosecution argued that the cat, which lived under a toll bridge, was not feral because it was cared for by the toll bridge operator. The jury was shown pictures of pans of food, bedding and toys hanging from strings under the bridge as well as images of the cat, a white-and-gray tabby mix, after it was shot.

http://www.timesargus.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071117/NEWS01/711170329/1002/NEWS01

[GreenPartyVoter]

1. "There are cat lovers.. and others who love biodiversity." So I guess

as a cat mommy I can't possibly love biodiversity? Gimme a break!

[Quantess]

8. That struck me right away, too.

As if cat lovers don't appreciate birds? He may as well say, "there are people who care about climate change, and there are people who have cats". :eyes:

I would venture to say that most cats, especially well-fed pets, aren't able to catch birds. My 2 cats have never caught a bird, AFAIK, but they are skilled at catching mice.

[Warpy]

2. Ever watch a cat on the prowl?

Most cats are not terribly efficient hunters. They mainly get the old, the young and the sick. They are also harder on vermin like bugs, snakes and rodents than they are on birds. They just love the challenge of going after birds.

That being said, I had a tomcat who was hell on birds. So I fixed him. After that, he seemed more content to lounge around and eat kibble, although he'd dispatch the occasional vole or shrew.

This cat was somebody's pet. It was also doing what it was supposed to do in the natural order of things. Is this lunatic going to be allowed to become nature's cop? Is he going to shoot coyotes going after cats, dogs and rabbits? Is he going to freak out over all other predators?

I don't like the idea that my cats will kill beneficial critters like birds, so I confine them indoors. However, this kitty was semi feral and a companion to another human being.

This guy should have been convicted at least of discharging a firearm illegally. I'll feel a bit safer if he's put where he can't do it again.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

4. "It was also doing what it was supposed to do in the natural order of things"

Except the cat wasn't natural.

Like you said, it was somebody's pet.

[Warpy]

5. It was a tweener

partially feral, partially tamed down enough to be a companion.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

6. And?

An invasive species, in other words.

[Warpy]

9. Oh, please.

Feeding it cut way down on its predation.

The shooter was in the wrong. Deal with it.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

3. My opinion on this story declared a mistrial.

[radfringe]

7. bringe to mind a discussion about intelligence

in predators vs prey

generally speaking predators are more intelligent, after all how much brains does it take to sneak up on a piece of grass?
:rofl: