So, my husband and I were hanging out in our living room Wednesday night, and we heard a knock on the door. We answered it, and there was a neighbor of ours who lives in the back of our alley behind our house...he's a policeman, and he was just getting off duty. He seemed quite upset, and explained to us that his 1 year-old male tabby cat had been missing for over two days. Now, keep in mind, that here in Iowa this past week, we've had well below temps, both day and night. My son and his friend found this same cat wandering up the street last fall, and returned him to the policeman's home. The policeman said that he was an indoor/outdoor cat, and had a strange feeling that my son's friend had information on his cat's whereabouts...oddly enough, my son was over at this boy's house at that moment playing. So, we called the boy's house, and spoke with the boy, and our son, and the boy said he didn't know anything about this missing cat, and that he hadn't seen it. I have NO idea why this police officer thought this kid knew anything about it, but he was absloutely convinced. So, we gave the officer this kid's address, and he went over there to speak to the boy's mother. Well, she FREAKED OUT, and apparently started to cry, and was really intimidated. I called her, and apologized, and told her that I knew that her boy had nothing to do with this missing cat (which I firmly believe he has no idea about it), and I couldn't understand why the officer had this in his head. And, this cop proceeded to go door to door in our neighborhood looking for his cat, which was a good thing, but then later came back to our house, angry and INSISTANT that the boy knew where his cat was. I told the officer I talked to his mother, and neither she or the boy knew anything. Apparently when he went over to their house, he threatened to press charges against the boy and his mother, and even threatened my son, and told the kids that he would put them in a "line-up" and have them questioned. Ugh!!! I did ask the officer if the cat had a license, or was microchipped, and he said "No, we bought him a year ago at ________pet store. He usually only stays outside for an hour or two, and then comes inside, but he hasn't been home." This frustrated me to no end, as our city animal code states that any animal loose without a license and tags is considered to be at large, and the owner can be fined for permitting this to happen...and this is a law enforcement officer!
Well, we haven't heard anything more about the cat, so he either found the kitty, or gave up. Now, our son told us that the boy's mother is trying to press harassment charges against this police officer, and also included my and my husband's name on the form!
I know she doesn't have any grounds to do this, as I we only spoke to her that one time after the cop showed up at her house. Apparently, she chewed my son out, and is now angry at us for giving the cop her address, as she feels that we were just trying to get rid of him, and we wanted to blame her for something she didn't do...ugh. Drama!!!! Stupid!!!
I'm not worried about it or anything, but I do feel bad for the kitty. I told the cop, that in these low temperatures, chances are, the cat is hiding in someone's garage, under the hood of a car trying to keep warm, or hiding under a porch. The worst scenario is that this cat has gotten lost, and either froze to death, or is suffering from deadly frostbite. I told my husband that if we do spot the cat, there is NO WAY I'm returning him directly to the officer...I would much rather turn him in to the Humane Society, and then notify the cop that he's there. I think that that would be a better wake-up call for him than anything.
Well, we haven't heard anything more about the cat, so he either found the kitty, or gave up. Now, our son told us that the boy's mother is trying to press harassment charges against this police officer, and also included my and my husband's name on the form!
I'm not worried about it or anything, but I do feel bad for the kitty. I told the cop, that in these low temperatures, chances are, the cat is hiding in someone's garage, under the hood of a car trying to keep warm, or hiding under a porch. The worst scenario is that this cat has gotten lost, and either froze to death, or is suffering from deadly frostbite. I told my husband that if we do spot the cat, there is NO WAY I'm returning him directly to the officer...I would much rather turn him in to the Humane Society, and then notify the cop that he's there. I think that that would be a better wake-up call for him than anything.