MURRAY, Utah – A Utah woman wants to see change after an antiquated ordinance led her to receive misdemeanor charges for allowing her cat to lie on their front lawn.
When Kate Anderson was first approached by animal control, she thought something terrible had happened to their cat. Then, the officer gave her a citation, carrying the weight of two misdemeanor charges, for letting her cat lie on their own lawn.
“Milo, come here!” Anderson said as she made kissy noises to her cat while it laid on their front lawn.
In the Anderson household, Milo is treated like family.
“He’s got a cat door, so he just comes and goes and is a cat,” Anderson said.
However, they never expected their furry feline would be the reason they were slapped with misdemeanor charges.
“There he is, back at the scene of the crime,” Anderson laughed as her cat came near her and laid on the lawn.
On Monday, Kate said Milo had let himself outside and was on their front lawn – someone then took a picture of Milo and reported it.
“I just got a ticket for my cat being outside, in my yard,” Anderson said in disbelief.
An animal control employee received the report and made a house call to Kate’s Murray home. They then wrote her a citation.
“This is a cat who is neutered and micro-chipped and vaccinated, and is not a menace to society,” Anderson said.
Kate lifted up the ordinance and started to explain what it said, “That’s telling me I have to call for my court date… for my misdemeanors… of having my cat outside.”
Two charges were listed on the citation, both Class B misdemeanors. The first for having an ‘animal at large,’ the second for ‘not having an animal license attached.’
“Like a fugitive. Like robbed a bank,” she said after reading the phrase ‘at large’ out loud.
Based on the Murray city ordinance, which was enacted in 1963, it is illegal for any animal, house cats included, to run at large.
The ordinance reads in part:
“It is unlawful for the owner or person having charge, care, custody or control of any animal to allow such animal at any time to run at large. The owner or person charged with responsibility of an animal found running loose shall be strictly liable for a violation of this section and for any injury to a person or another animal, or property damage caused by such animal running at large, regardless of the precautions taken to prevent the escape of the animal and regardless of whether the owner or person charged with responsibility knows that the animal is running at large."
Murray City goes on to define ‘at large’ as anytime an animal is not on a leash, confined to a vehicle or secured in the yard. Even if the animal is on the owner’s property, Murray City defines them as ‘at large’ unless there is adequate protection to ensure other’s safety, there also must be a warning given, to let individuals know the animal is there.
“I don’t think most people think it is illegal to let your cat outside under any circumstance,” Anderson said.
“It sounded like the ordinance was kept vague for a reason so if there are strange circumstances, they can do something about that, but this just feels like animal control being out of control,” Anderson said.
The City Attorney for Murray, G.L. Critchfield, told FOX 13 that while Milo being on the lawn was technically a violation, they have filed a motion to dismiss the charges, considering how minor the violation is.
While prosecutors did tell Kate, that they would not be following through with the charges, she said she does not know what to do considering her cat is an indoor/outdoor animal.
“It’s definitely antiquated, I think if anything, there needs to be some kind of addition or amendment to the ordinance excluding felines,” Anderson said.
Critchfield said they do not foresee any amendments being made to the ordinance as it stands, to allow a broad coverage of any animals they encounter.
Poster Comment:
At least the doggie cop didn't "fear for his life" and shoot the kitty.
On Monday, Kate said Milo had let himself outside and was on their front lawn – someone then took a picture of Milo and reported it.
What kind of asshole does that? I can imagine Gatlin, the self appointed Gladys Kravitzu in his gated community maybe.
#66: GrandIsland To: A K A Stone (#60)
Says the Paultard.
The tough animal hugging Paultard. lol
GrandIsland posted on 2019-10-04 07:41:32 Reply Private Reply
#67: A K A Stone To: GrandIsland (#63)
You can call animal control and not act like a nut job killing peoples pets. That is just kooky.
So if I want you to obey the law i'm a Paultard. That is some lame brain thinking.
A K A Stone posted on 2019-10-04 07:44:26 Reply Private Reply
#68: GrandIsland To: A K A Stone (#65)
You see, that’s another Adam Schiff trait. Hypocrisy for your own AGENDA. It’s unlawful to kill your cat (because there are laws) but if I do, you’ll kick my ass (and their are laws against assault).
You’re like the (D)’s... impeaching Clinton is wrong... but we’re gonna impeach Trump from day one. Quid Pro Joe did no wrong, but Trump needs to be investigated for pointing it out.
Listen up, cat, doggie, birds and bees lover, your liberal Paultard ass isn’t built for fighting someone like me. keep your fucking animals off my property... or you won’t have them to hug. lol
GrandIsland posted on 2019-10-04 07:47:30 Reply Private Reply
#69: GrandIsland To: A K A Stone (#67)
I shouldn’t have to call animal control. Where do you think your fucking scumbag cat shits, when a lazy asshole like you, let’s it roam? Just in your yard? lol
Fuck you. You don’t want your cat dead, LEASH IT or keep it in your house. YOU CALL ANIMAL CONTROL when you can’t find your fucking cat no more.
GrandIsland posted on 2019-10-04 07:50:04 Reply Private Reply
#70: A K A Stone To: GrandIsland (#69)
Little piggy above the law?
A K A Stone posted on 2019-10-04 07:52:17 Reply Private Reply
#71: GrandIsland To: A K A Stone (#70)
Only if you want your Little kitty below the ground
GrandIsland posted on 2019-10-04 07:53:13 Reply Private Reply
#72: A K A Stone To: GrandIsland (#69)
I bet if your employer knew of your views you would be fired on the spot.
You are acting like an insane person. Is it because you are insane?
There has been cats on your yard. How many have you killed. 10, 20?
I still let dirty cops post here too.
A K A Stone posted on 2019-10-04 07:55:06 Reply Private Reply
#73: A K A Stone To: GrandIsland (#71)
You have proved that you are unfit to be an officer of the law. You will break the law and hide the evidence. You're not better than a ghetto crack whore.
A K A Stone posted on 2019-10-04 07:56:32 Reply Private Reply
#74: Gatlin To: GrandIsland (#63)
I don’t. I see right through him.Stone is just being stone – Or is Stone just being Deckard?
Often times it is hard for me to distinguish between them. I have to look down at the name in the “from” line to see which one is which.
If there are two more narrow-minded and biased individuals anywhere – I surely hope to never run across them.
Salute,
Gatlin
Gatlin posted on 2019-10-04 07:57:01 Reply Private Reply
#75: GrandIsland To: A K A Stone (#70)
You know how many times Schiff, Nader and Pelosi used the same bullshit quote, in the last year, to further their AGENDA?
CNN uses the same bullshit presumptive BIAS tactics that PAULTARDS invented.
GrandIsland posted on 2019-10-04 07:57:19 Reply Private Reply
#76: Gatlin To: GrandIsland (#73)
You really have him going.Where’s the popcorn …
Salute,
Gatlin
Gatlin posted on 2019-10-04 07:59:13 Reply Private Reply
#77: GrandIsland To: A K A Stone (#73)
Not true. Crack whores would understand that their cats shit on their neighbors, if they are lazy crack whores, and let their livestock roam. You’re just an ignorant Paultard. The most important (and evidently the toughest) person you know.
GrandIsland posted on 2019-10-04 07:59:36 Reply Private Reply
#78: GrandIsland To: Gatlin (#76)
lol
GrandIsland posted on 2019-10-04 08:01:11 Reply Private Reply
#79: A K A Stone To: GrandIsland (#75)
You are diverting like a good liberal.
It is in fact illegal and you said you would do it. Bad cop no donut.
A K A Stone posted on 2019-10-04 08:01:34 Reply Private Reply
#80: A K A Stone To: GrandIsland (#78)
Yeah you really got me going. You just exposed yourself as law breaker who doesn't care about the law. Can you give me your bosses address so I can see if he agrees with your sadistic views?
A K A Stone posted on 2019-10-04 08:03:45 Reply Private Reply
#81: Gatlin To: A K A Stone (#62)
Yea, I did need help on that one.I’m curious …
Do you ever follow the conversations along in the posts – or do you just suddenly appear on the thread and grab onto a post and shoot your mouth off?
Your immature responses to posts lead me to believe the latter.
I will try not to make mistakes in my future posts and make every attempt to dumb them down to your intelligence level.
Salute,
Gatlin
Gatlin posted on 2019-10-04 08:05:21 Reply Private Reply
#82: GrandIsland To: Gatlin (#74)
Ain’t no human being as stupid as Dicktard... but Stone might be close, taking this ideological position on his self importance.
You know, he’s so fucking important, that his cat should roam, and I need to call animal control to report WHAT HE ALREADY KNOWS... his cat is shitting on my property. THEN, animal control will say, sorry sir, there are no laws regarding leashing a cat (unless it’s in an HOA).... so you have to take it up the tail pipe... and when I take matters in my own hands, because STONE is too self important to do something, then I’m accused of being “above the law”
Doxx him. lol
GrandIsland posted on 2019-10-04 08:07:13 Reply Private Reply
#83: Gatlin To: A K A Stone, GrandIsland (#80)
He sure as hell does.You have now become ridiculously funny.
Salute,
Gatlin
Gatlin posted on 2019-10-04 08:08:31 Reply Private Reply
#84: A K A Stone To: Gatlin (#81)
Uh you can't cut and paste the address in your browser. It is easy I did it and the link worked just fine.
Now go study it and get back to GrandIsland and warn him to obey the law and not kill no cats.
I bet you are to much of a pussy to answer this question. Lets see. Do you agree with Grand lunatic that killing cats is his right? Are you as kooky as him? Are you going to defend that behavior? If you do defend it is is something your wife would be proud of?
A K A Stone posted on 2019-10-04 08:09:00 Reply Private Reply
#85: GrandIsland To: A K A Stone (#80)
Now keep your fucking livestock OFF my property, if you don’t want to lose your kitty.
GrandIsland posted on 2019-10-04 08:09:57 Reply Private Reply
#86: Gatlin To: GrandIsland (#82)
An enjoyable morning.
Thanks for the laughs.
Salute,
Gatlin
Gatlin posted on 2019-10-04 08:10:53 Reply Private Reply
#87: A K A Stone To: GrandIsland (#82)
Just follow the law or go to jail and get beat up. Well you would get beat up in jail. Just like I would kick your ass if you illegally harmed my pet.
A K A Stone posted on 2019-10-04 08:11:31 Reply Private Reply
#88: GrandIsland To: Gatlin (#86)
Stone might remove it. If he does, start calling him DICK-Tater and DICK-tard.
Two DICKS’ in a pod.
GrandIsland posted on 2019-10-04 08:12:50 Reply Private Reply
#89: A K A Stone To: GrandIsland (#85)
Cats are legally allowed to roam. If they cause damage to your car you can sue in court. If you want them off your property you can call animal control and they will remove them. If you go kooky and kill someones pet you will go to jail and maybe have your asshole enlarged. Then when you get out I will kick your ass. Then I will tell you not to tell anyone or I will kick it again. :). I'll let you live but you will be bruised up.
A K A Stone posted on 2019-10-04 08:14:27 Reply Private Reply
#90: GrandIsland To: A K A Stone (#87)
Don’t make your situation worse, Paultard... or your doggie will be sleeping with your kitty.... and the guys at hunting camp will have a cornucopia of slim-Jim’s to eat in their tree stands... killing the roaming animals.
GrandIsland posted on 2019-10-04 08:16:08 Reply Private Reply
#91: Gatlin To: A K A Stone (#84)
Answer “THIS” question?Exactly which question of the 4 questions is it that you want me to answer?
Salute,
Gatlin
Gatlin posted on 2019-10-04 08:16:36 Reply Private Reply
#92: A K A Stone To: GrandIsland (#82)
I am more important that you are. I'm also better, stronger and more handsome. Funnier too.
A K A Stone posted on 2019-10-04 08:16:51 Reply Private Reply
#93: GrandIsland To: A K A Stone (#89)
I’m nullifying you’re civil laws. You should understand that, Paultard.
You made this bed after you shit in it... now sleep in it.
lol
GrandIsland posted on 2019-10-04 08:17:33 Reply Private Reply
#94: A K A Stone To: Gatlin (#91)
A K A Stone posted on 2019-10-04 08:17:40 Reply Private Reply
#95: GrandIsland To: A K A Stone (#92)
But you might be cat-less
lol
GrandIsland posted on 2019-10-04 08:18:37 Reply Private Reply
#96: Gatlin To: GrandIsland (#90)
He has really gone all out “Deckard” – Or, is this the “real” Stone?Salute,
Gatlin
Gatlin posted on 2019-10-04 08:19:01 Reply Private Reply
#97: A K A Stone To: GrandIsland (#93)
You can do that on a jury if you like. But you aren't on the jury in this scenario. you are the defendant on trial on the news that murdered my poor little girls pet.
A K A Stone posted on 2019-10-04 08:19:09 Reply Private Reply
#98: GrandIsland To: A K A Stone (#94)
Obviously NOT. He doesn’t sit on here complaining that he can’t grow weeds in his front yard... because he cares about his neighbors freedoms as much as he cares about HIS FREEDOMS. You Paultards aren’t built to think like that.
GrandIsland posted on 2019-10-04 08:21:19 Reply Private Reply
#99: A K A Stone To: Gatlin (#96)
This is the real Stone. I'm for obeying the law.
So Gatlin is ok with breaking the law and killing peoples pets. I do think your wife would be ashamed of you if she knew you support people killing peoples pets because a cat walked in their yard. It is illegal Gatlin. But I guess you are a phoney and don't care about the law.
Afterall you did admit you were a liar yesterday or the day before.
A K A Stone posted on 2019-10-04 08:22:37 Reply Private Reply
#100: GrandIsland To: A K A Stone (#97)
I can’t be in the jury of my own civil trial, dumb shit.
Have you been hitting DICKtards drug nullifying law bong?
GrandIsland posted on 2019-10-04 08:22:48 Reply Private Reply
#101: A K A Stone To: GrandIsland (#98)
Nope I don't think like you. I wouldn't kill my neighbors pet because it walked in my yard. Or even if it shit in my yard. That isn't what sane people do. That is what serial killer types do when they are kids.
Your buddy Gatlin supports you and thinks it is a good thing to kill peoples cats if they roam on your yard.
A K A Stone posted on 2019-10-04 08:24:59 Reply Private Reply
#102: A K A Stone To: GrandIsland (#100)
Then how are you going to nullify it dumb piggy.
A K A Stone posted on 2019-10-04 08:25:34 Reply Private Reply
#103: Gatlin To: A K A Stone (#94)
I cannot agree about something when I have not been shown evidence that it has happenedAnd if it is proven that it did happen – then what, if any, justification there was for it.
Logic can be your best friend, Stone – if only you will let it be …
Salute,
Gatlin
Gatlin posted on 2019-10-04 08:26:15 Reply Private Reply
#104: GrandIsland To: A K A Stone (#99)
I’m surprised he still posts in LIBERTY FLIP FLOP FLAME. I’ve lost interest with your Paultard flip flops.
GrandIsland posted on 2019-10-04 08:26:58 Reply Private Reply
#105: GrandIsland To: A K A Stone (#102)
By nullifying your dumb kitty. lol
No more problem.
GrandIsland posted on 2019-10-04 08:28:23 Reply Private Reply
#106: A K A Stone To: Gatlin (#103)
What a lamer.
He said he would do it. Do you support that or are you a pussy and don't want to offend your would be feline killing friend.
A K A Stone posted on 2019-10-04 08:28:29 Reply Private Reply
#107: Gatlin To: A K A Stone (#84)
The first two worked but the last one did not.I am not going to bother with it anymore,
For knowing you, it didn’t mean shit anyway.
Salute,
Gatlin
Gatlin posted on 2019-10-04 08:28:45 Reply Private Reply
#108: A K A Stone To: GrandIsland (#104)
Leave or stay the choice is yours. I understand if you are embarrassed by your kook posts today and want to slither away.
But you said you weren't coming back a few other times before too.
A K A Stone posted on 2019-10-04 08:30:35 Reply Private Reply
#109: A K A Stone To: Gatlin (#107)
No I don't think Grand Island is a serial killer. But his thoughts and ideas on this subject are wrong and illegal. Not the thought itself but if he carried them out.
A K A Stone posted on 2019-10-04 08:32:36 Reply Private Reply
#110: A K A Stone To: Gatlin (#107)
At least I made you take off your mask and drop all the phoney Stone you are my friend and I respect you bullshit.
A K A Stone posted on 2019-10-04 08:33:38 Reply Private Reply
#111: GrandIsland To: A K A Stone (#106)
I’m about to put my dog, IN MY FENCED IN BACK YARD, so she can take a PAULTARD. I don’t restrict my fucking dog to staying inside my yard BECAUSE OF LAWS. I DO IT BECAUSE ITS THE CONSIDERATE THING TO DO. Same ideology with my CAT (which I do own as well)
When you stop being a self important Paultard, you will understand that your cat doesn’t have fucking constitutional rights, on my property.
If you truly love your kitty, you won’t let it roam to be hit by a car... or a casualty to my very QUIET compound bow.
lol
GrandIsland posted on 2019-10-04 08:35:39 Reply Private Reply
#112: Gatlin To: A K A Stone (#106)
Hello …
SAYING is not DOING.
Your really do have a problem with logic.
Whew …
I support the First Amendment that guarantees our right to free expression. Call me “pussy” for supporting the First Amendment if it makes you feel better. But I will still support the First Amendment. Woah – Hold on there, hoss …You just said “would be feline killing”
“Would be?”
Hmmm …
Salute,
Gatlin
Gatlin posted on 2019-10-04 08:46:09 Reply Private Reply
#113: A K A Stone To: GrandIsland (#111)
In all 50 states cats are allowed to roam on your ward. The birds an the bees too. In all 50 states the actions you advocate are illegal and will land you in jail.
Quit taking the criminal side and quit acting like a kook.
A K A Stone posted on 2019-10-04 08:46:47 Reply Private Reply
#114: A K A Stone To: Gatlin (#112)
You are to afraid to answer the question.. bock bock
A K A Stone posted on 2019-10-04 08:48:44 Reply Private Reply
#115: A K A Stone To: Gatlin (#112)
Yep it would be.
From now on don't answer any hypothetical questions because i might delete them since you wont answer mine because it will hurt your little friends feelings.
A K A Stone posted on 2019-10-04 08:49:44 Reply Private Reply