A 76-year-old man served 8 days in jail for not paying fines related to caring for cats before being released.
Alley Cat Allies is offering support and legal assistance to a 76-year-old Gainesville, Texas man who was put in jail for not paying fines related to caring for cats in a city that prohibits the feeding of stray animals. The man received multiple citations for putting food out for community cats. After failing to pay the fees associated with violating this ordinance, he served a 9 day jail sentence.
Compassion should not be criminalized. Punishing people for being compassionate is counterproductive and does nothing to help decrease the community cat population. Trap-Neuter-Return is the humane, effective approach to community cats.
We are working to repeal the local feeding ban so that no one in Gainesville who feeds cats will have to fear legal action or fines. We’re committed to changing Gainesville’s ordinances to allow people not only to feed cats, but also the freedom to start a Trap-Neuter-Return program in the city.
Join us in standing up for community cats & their caregivers and SIGN THE PLEDGE!