Hi, I tried calling my local animal shelter to get this info but they were closed so i am posting on the only webiste i know that has been helpful to my questions. My neighbor who lives across from me adopted a cat from a local animal rescue league about a month ago. Well she got it for her grand daughter and her grand daughter went out of town and while she was gone she kicked the cat out of the house so it would get lost and never come back. Now she is telling her grand daughter it died. I was wondering if putting a young cat who has never been in the wild before outside near the woods if considered animal cruelty or abandonment? any info is appreciated. thanks
I think it was about 4 month old. It wasnt a kitten but it was still very youthful. My husband and i are currently looking for it. It was a sweet cat. I honestly dont understand why she hated it so much
Also, some of you have asked, yes she did admit to me face to face that she put the cat out so it would never come back because she hated it and wanted it gone.
Good news, we found the cat. My husband walked outside tonight and heard it meowing at their house but of course she didnt let it in. He went and got it and we are feeding it and taking it back to its shelter at the Madison Ark tomorrow
It is animal abandonment, if she 'rescued it' only to tell her granddaughter it died. Since it is a local rescue, call them and give them the address of the 'owner'. So sad, but thank you for being proactive. As far as the grandmother goes - she sounds like a cold you-know-what - I wouldn't want my child around her.
According to Mississippi anti-cruelty law, it's a misdemeanor to intentionally deprive a domesticated cat of food, water and/or shelter. If you adopt a pet, it's your responsibility to care for it. She would have had to sign paperwork during the adoption explaining all of that. And most rescue leagues ask that you contact them if the placement doesn't work out for any reason.
MS anti-cruelty law (http://www.animallaw.info/statutes/topicstatutes/sttoac.htm):
This section constitutes Mississippi's anti-cruelty and animal fighting provisions, which were recently amended in 2011. The pertinent anti-cruelty law, § 97-41-1, states that any person who intentionally or with criminal negligence overrides, overdrives, overloads, tortures, torments, unjustifiably injures, deprives of necessary sustenance, food, or drink, cruelly beats, or needlessly mutilates any living creature, is guilty of a misdemeanor. The cat and dog cruelty provision, § 97-41-16, was significantly amended in 2011. This section, known as the "Mississippi Dog and Cat Pet Protection Law of 2011," makes it a misdemeanor to intentionally or with criminal negligence wound, deprive of adequate food, water, or shelter, or carry or confine in a cruel manner, any domesticated cat or dog. Aggravated cruelty occurs when a person with malice intentionally tortures, mutilates, maims, burns, starves or disfigures any domesticated dog or cat.
Good luck trying to prove it isn't an outdoor cat which is perfectly common.
I don't really think so, since cats are outside animals for the most part. I think it is cruel and insensitive, but I don't think they would get in trouble for it, unfortunately. Was it a small young kitten? Can you go try and find it?
She may also be violating an agreement with the animal rescue group. You should try to contact them.
If she rescued it from a rescue league, they have the new family sign a statement that they agree too, such as keeping it indoors, having it vaccinated.... She very likely broke the contract.. you can contact the league, give them her address. They may prosecute, but she could always lie and say it ran off. Legally, if she never got the animal a rabies shot (I'm guessing this type of person probably didn't) she could be fined as well.
And yes, that is abandonment. Just wait until the cat makes a return and the granddaughter finds out her grandmother is a cruel liar.
You can't prove much of anything unless she told you directly that she put the cat out intentionally to get "lost".
It is wrong to lie to a child - no matter what the age - about a pet...but you can't make a case for that - it's not a missing person - it's a cat.
it's not how I would treat a cat or any animal for that matter - but really - what are you planning to do about it?
Call the police, NOT 911, call the local number and ask them. If it is considered abandonment or cruelty, and if your county has laws regarding such, the police will know and they will deal with it. I would continue to try and contact the shelter that she got the cat from and let them know so that she won't be allowed to adopt from there again.
It is abandoment, and it should be reported to the authorities.
It's cruel and it's abandonment. What an irresponsible heartless thing to do, both to the cat, and to the natural environment.
Yes, I think it is animal cruelty, because that cat doesn't know how to fend for and feed itself in the wild. I hope you can find it.
Definitely let the shelter she got it from know-- they may need to tighten up their adoption screenings!
If she had adopted the cat from our rescue, I would absolutely want to know, so that we could try to find the cat and put her on a DNA (do not adopt), list.
To people who think cats are "outdoor" animals, yes, feral cats are. Domestic cats are NOT. Yes, they love to frolic outside and chase butterflies, etc, and your two-year-old human child would love to play in the middle of the interstate. But we, as the adults and caregivers of our pets and children, know that these things are not safe, so we don't let them do it. We are there to protect them.
Lucky you don't live in Oklahoma where animal control wouldn't care. Good luck with this and please update us on what happens!
I can honestly say I am not a cat person, but I could never do that to one. I just don't understand how people can be so mean. I heard on the news today that 9 horses were left for who knows how long without food and water. We have been in the 100s for a month and a half. All nine perished. Why??? I just don't get it!!
I hope you find the poor cat. Thanks for caring!
Definitely call the place she got it. LOl I wonder if the cat started peeing all over the house. My pets are family couldnt imagine treating them badly
