Officer response on feral cat lacking

Editor,

I just wanted to let the public know how the police department handles abandoned animals.

Our neighbor moved out of town this summer and her cat was left behind. The cat has been trying to find food and shelter for the entire summer and now we are coming into winter.

I have two cats and have cat doors into our garage and then into the house. This animal has been coming into my house and bothering my cats, eating their food and making itself at home. I was able to obtain a live trap and trap the cat.

When I called the police department, they stated they could not help until Monday. The officer actually stated I created my own problem by trapping this cat. I told him that it solved my problem because I caught the cat that was coming in our house. This happened on a Saturday. I asked if my husband could take it out and put it down as it was now a feral cat. They stated no, that would be animal cruelty. I said, so it is supposed to sit in the live trap all weekend long without food or water, as I already have two cats that I own and take care of. The police officer did not answer that other than to say putting the animal down was cruel and he did not suggest we follow through.

I then stated I wanted to press animal abandonment charges against the owner who had left that cat behind. The police officer stated to me “prove it.” Wow!! I am just dumbfounded that this is the response from the police. He kept telling me to wait until Monday and talk with animal control. Let’s just pass the buck.

Havre’s finest!!

Judy L. Loendorf

Havre