Missing cats spur neighborhood feud in Bonham Save Email Print
Posted: 1:15 PM May 9, 2008
Last Updated: 1:22 PM May 9, 2008
Reporter: KXII-TV Staff
Email Address: firstnews@kxii.com

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BONHAM, Tex. – In a battle of ‘he said, she said’ in Bonham involving cats, a neighborhood feud is causing quite a stir. Nicole Holt has the story.

It's every pet owner’s worst nightmare: their animal is there one minute and gone the next. That's the scenario for residents on Franklin Street where at least three cats have allegedly disappeared.

"Why would you want to leave somewhere when you've got food 24/7, you've got someone in and out all the time, you are let out of the house all the time, you have of toys, why would you want to leave that," pet owner Jennifer Roland says.

Jennifer Roland owns four felines. One of them, a Blue Parisian, is no where to be found. She claims her neighbor is trapping the animals.

""We were told by neighbors if he got into their yard, he would do away with them," Roland says.

"We’ve been told by neighbors that an individual at a house on Franklin Street has been trapping their cats. We understand that lady that lives at the house is very sick and she does not want the animals on her property. So her husband has set traps."" Bonham Police Chief Mike Bankston says.

The city of Bonham has no ordinance dealing with pets wondering out of their owners yard.

"We have leash laws as most cities do on animals, but we do not have a law on restricting movement of cats at this time,” Bankston says.

Bankston says this may prompt one, but until then, any animals trapped within city limits must be turned over to the Bonham Animal Control Officer.

"If we believe once the cats are trapped and are mistreated, that would be a violation--animal cruelty or something like that. A property owner has a right to protect their property," Bankston says.

While neighbors are understandably upset, there is really nothing the police department can do until an ordinance is set in place.

"I don't want them to get into trouble for it, just realize it’s wrong. I want them to quit," Roland says.

Authorities say no report has been filed, and there is no violation for the missing cats. It is just a good lesson to pet owners.

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Posted by: Mork Location: Ork on May 14, 2008 at 03:11 PM
Hey asdf - Did we not get enough fiber in our breakfast this morning? Maybe we should consider anger management? Here kitty, kitty, kitty.......

Posted by: Roy Location: Tishomingo, OK on May 14, 2008 at 01:49 PM
Are there cats and dogs in heaven? And if so then they must be as important to god as people. That is why people care more about their cats and dogs than they do people. All you sinners killing cats and dogs are going to burn in hell for it. The cats and dogs pooping in your yards are blessing you. Next time you complain about cats and dogs just think what would Jesus do?

Posted by: Neighbor Location: where there are too many cats on May 14, 2008 at 11:45 AM
I have one neighbor who doesn't believe in spaying or neutering their animals. This same couple have also chosen to only have one child. . . go figure!

Posted by: Lisa Location: Kingston on May 14, 2008 at 11:44 AM
Did you mean naive? It would seem to me you would have to "prove" it was me first - and not any one of my other 5 neighbors that are doing the same thing. So, I guess you have a bigger fit if I were to sprinkle red pepper all over my front lawn - that would burn their noses. Of course, if the cats & dogs were kept in their owner's yard - they wouldn't get paint balled. My opiinion is - you are just another one of those bleeding heart 'let the cat or dog poop where ever it wants' people.

Posted by: to lisa Location: sherman on May 14, 2008 at 11:28 AM
lisa, you posted that you want to paintball the cats, well that right there is cruelty, not to mention it can cause internal injuries to a cat. If a paintball can bruise and sometimes crack a PERSONS ribcage, it can kill a small animal such as a cat. You might want to think about what you post before posting it, because if I lived where you do, and I saw a cat dead on the side of the road with paintball paint on them, I would come straight to you for the animal cruelty charges. Plus the fact paintballs do not keep there color after time, it turns clear to a yellowish tint, so it won't stain peoples clothing and so they can continue to paintball throughout the day without having to change into 10 sets of clothes. I just find that your method is nieve and wreckless.

Posted by: Jesus Location: Dallas on May 14, 2008 at 10:53 AM
Seems like a lot of people care more for their cats and dogs than they do people. Is this American culture at its finest? I am just curious.

Posted by: Steven Location: Wright on May 14, 2008 at 08:09 AM
Curiosity killed the cat, but for a while I was a suspect.

Posted by: Stephen Location: Wright on May 13, 2008 at 02:40 PM
I intend to live forever. So far, so good

Posted by: Jeffrey Location: Texas on May 13, 2008 at 01:52 PM
When people start killing your cats and dogs just shut up about it cause its just life and death people get real problems.

Posted by: l Location: sherman on May 13, 2008 at 12:42 PM
I always knew there were leash laws, but my question is... what about the people who ave their dog on a leash and yet they still allow it to crap in some one elses yard as they are walking the dog down the street!!

Posted by: qualls on May 13, 2008 at 12:35 PM
it is just life people, get some real problems

Posted by: Billy Location: Norman, OK on May 12, 2008 at 09:44 PM
The reason dog and cat owners thnk they can let their animals on anyones property is because they are bullies. What happens when their pitbull dogs eats a person--nothing. And nothing happens when their cats and dogs crap on your property. Kill a dog or a cat and you will get animal cruelty charges on you. Step in and smell your neighbors cat and dog crap in your own yard and no one cares. I say kill and eat every cat and dog in sight and poison all the rats and mice, then we will not have to suffer dog bites and cat and dog crap.

Posted by: Anonymous on May 12, 2008 at 07:46 PM
bonham must be some hick town

Posted by: Reva Location: OK on May 12, 2008 at 06:16 PM
Dogs, cats, or any other animal a person owns should be kept on their own property, period. We paid a lot of money for our house and land - I didn't see anyone else jumping in and helping pay for it, so why would they think they and their animals are entitled to use it any time they see fit?

Posted by: Lisa Location: Kingston on May 12, 2008 at 04:46 PM
I have St. Augustine grass and I paid a lot for it. What I didn't pay for was having the neighborhood cats digging in it and deficating on my lawn. I have talked to them about it - they say there is no leash law on cats - they can roam free, like buffalo! Well, they need to look at their cats closely from now on. On Monday's I am going to shoot red paint balls, yellow on Tuesday, Green on Wednesday - and so on. If you want your cat out side - put a top on your yard. If you love it so much - keep it inside. It is that simple. BTW - I have cats - I keep them inside, and change their box every other day. . . so I live by my words.

Posted by: Here Location: Gone on May 12, 2008 at 03:55 PM
Let me say this to all of you KEEP YOUR ANIMALS ON A LEASH and cat owners BUILD A PIN FOR YOUR CATS OUTSIDE FOR YOU TO PUT THEM IN IF THEY WANT TO BE OUTSIDE SO THEY DONT PEE ON PEOPLES YARDS BUSHES DOORWAYS AND OR OTHER PEOPLES STUFF. The lady that has lost the cats THEY SHOULD NEVER BE OUT ANYWAY!!!!! GET A LITTER BOX AND OPEN UP A WINDOW SO THEY CAN SIT IN THE WINDOW SEAL COME ON THIS IS STUPBID TO EVEN BE TALKING ABOUT

Posted by: Anonymous on May 12, 2008 at 03:04 PM
Would you all like some cheese with that whine? This is stupid! Next thing you know it someone is gonna start gripping about the wild birds that fly over you newly washed and waxed car and crap on it and itll make the news, because some moron is gonna want to put a leash on them too!! Get over yourselves GOOD GOD!!

Posted by: anonymous Location: bonham,tx on May 12, 2008 at 12:37 PM
As a resident from Bonham, I believe that its the partly the pet owners fault. Cats roam all over the town, and anything could've happened to her animals. As a neighbor that doesn't own a cat, it is annoying to find someones cat sitting on your car and you also find scratch marks in the paint. We aren't allowed to let our dogs roam all over, so why should cats?

Posted by: Anonymous on May 12, 2008 at 12:04 PM
I don't care if there are leash laws about this or not, keeping your own animals on your own property is just basic neighborly (and human) decency, in my opinion. C'mon, have respect for others and their property!

Posted by: Michael Location: Ada on May 12, 2008 at 09:59 AM
I believe it is the bully cat and dog owners that are causing so much trouble for people that dont like their yard filled with poopoo. I bet if the people that dont like their yards filled with cat and dog poo poo were to go and poopoo in the cat and dog owners yards it would be a different story. Cats and dogs have more rights than people. Shame on the bully cat and dog owners, quit being bullies and running over your neighbors.

Posted by: Penny Location: Pottsboro on May 12, 2008 at 09:41 AM
What about neighbor's dogs who are NOT on a leash and they come onto your property and kill your cat? In the last 4 years I have lost about 8 cats! I only have 1 cat at a time and they only live about 6 months before they are hunted down and killed by neighbors dogs!! One time I had kittens that I kept in a portable cat carrier at night on the back patio so they would be safe, but the dogs came onto our property at night and chewed up the carrier and tossed it around the yard, but fortunetaly they didn't get the kittens because the ruckus woke us up and we were able to chase the dogs away! I don't know who these dogs belong to, because they just roam the street. I want to kill these dogs, but I love animals and I could never do that....but I wish the owners would be more responsible with the dogs. Right now, my cat is missing.....and last night I heard dogs barking outside my window...so I guess I just can't have a cat anymore because they just get killed!!

Posted by: asdf Location: asdf on May 12, 2008 at 09:32 AM
If I ever figure out who Mork the dork is I will beat the snot out of him. Nanu - Nanu punk!

Posted by: Anonymous on May 12, 2008 at 08:16 AM
I hate my neighbors wife.

Posted by: Jason Location: Texas/Oklahoma on May 11, 2008 at 07:55 PM
I hate people who hate cats.

Posted by: Terri Location: Denison on May 11, 2008 at 03:51 PM
If you have lease laws, and the pets are not on a leash then it is the fault of the pet owner. People have a right to not have your cat messing in their yard or having flower beds dug up or destroyed by the acidic urine of cats. You love your cat, keep it at home.

Posted by: Anonymous on May 11, 2008 at 10:49 AM
I've had problems with the neighbor's dogs, cats, goats (nasty, stinky, randy billy goats at that!!) and horses getting onto my property. Their cheap barbed wire fence does nothing to keep them in. And of course, they don't care...

Posted by: Stan Location: Colbert on May 11, 2008 at 10:23 AM
I just watched the video about the neighbors putting up a sign calling her neighbor a cat killer. It is unbelievable that she has the audacity to calll her neighbor a cat killer when she does not have the sence to taek care of her own cats. She should keep her cats in her own yard like all dog and cats owners should. To blame her neighbors for her lack of responsibility for her cat is ridiculous. And to aggravate her sick neighbor is shameful. I guess this is a root hog or die world where no one cares for any one. what a shame american culture is.

Posted by: William Location: Healdton on May 11, 2008 at 09:37 AM
When I lived in Wilson, there was a guy who poisoned cats and dogs but it was mainly cats. It seems to me that if this individual is trapping the cats, then where are they? Sounds to me like the P.D. is not doing their job. Make the man produce the cats he has trapped. Or has he killed them and disposed of them? That is what the P.D. should be looking into. We are sorry for your lose Mam!

Posted by: Anonymous on May 11, 2008 at 06:48 AM
I Hate Cats

Posted by: MP Dod Handler on May 10, 2008 at 11:33 PM
I have made many posts about dogs and the same goes with cats, Owners Keep Up With Your Pet! a cat that is fed 24/7 will absolutely not chase rats or snakes, I have personally witnessed this. you cannot keep a cat within a fenced yard. cats urinate and deficate everywhere but their comfort zone just like dogs. a homeowner has every right to setup at trap on his or her property whether it catches a squirrel, gofer, cat, dog, bobcat, wild pig or whatever. once an animal is in a trap on personal property, there is no animal cruelty issue period.

Posted by: Daniel Location: Sherman... on May 10, 2008 at 04:34 PM
WELL.... ID SAY THEY WARNED YOU.. maybe noone wants cat crap in their yard...

Posted by: Bob Location: Tulsa, OK on May 10, 2008 at 10:10 AM
I to wonder why neighbors have shameful disregard and compassion. They let their cats and dogs come into my yard and scatter trash, dig holes and crap in my yard. My neighbors never scoop up their cats and dogs poop in my yard, or fill up the holes they dig or pick up any trash they have scattered about. Soon as my neighbors let their cats and dogs out they come to my yard and poop, I guess cause they dont want to poop in their yard. I have called the dog catcher and he has talked to the cat and dog owners but nothing has changed. One of the dogs is a pitbull and protects his cats and may bite. Can I put antifreeze out in my yard or poison in hamburger meat or is that against the law? please help me to solve this problem of being overrun by cats and dogs. I wish my nieghbors had the respect to keep their cats and dogs off my property, but they dont. Why should I have to pick up poop and trash, and fill holes that my no good neighbors cats and dogs are responsible for?

Posted by: whatever Location: anywhere on May 10, 2008 at 08:16 AM
This is funny...guess the texans got tired of the okies having all the fun... YOU keep YOUR cat in YOUR yard and I'LL keep MY cat in MY yard... be a responsible pet owner. WATCH your pets while they are outside.

Posted by: Gotta Have Location: Humor on May 9, 2008 at 11:43 PM
Any new Chinese food restaurants opened up in Bonham lately?

Posted by: Anonymous Location: Texas on May 9, 2008 at 11:37 PM
Obviously per the video, there was one thing the cat owner didn't provide - a LITTER BOX!! AAHH, but that would probably be too much trouble and rather disgusting to deal with - it is easier just to let your cat out to crap on your neighbor's property. If a litter box were provided then the cat (or cats in this case) would not have a need to leave the house, therefore, problem solved. I believe what the cat owner needs to realize is how to be a GOOD NEIGHBOR and that means RESPECTING your neighbor's property!

Posted by: Anonymous on May 9, 2008 at 08:35 PM
well i have nasty neighbors that are way worse than the cats are..i go out once a week and pick up jack in the box sacks with nasty scraps and beer cans everywhere,people just throw this stuff right down by their car and in the yards,so people are just as bad as cats.

Posted by: Mork Location: Ork on May 9, 2008 at 06:24 PM
I say let's have an open season on cats from October through November. Then we can have a black poweder and bow season after that. Make a sport out of this. Hey, I like cats - they taste just like chicken!!!! I think all cats should be kept on a leash! LOL! Let the video roll.

Posted by: Anonymous Location: Texas on May 9, 2008 at 05:00 PM
I can respect both sides of this issue, each have valid arguments within reason. However, the animals were NOT turned over to the proper authorities! The law, at least in that regard, has not been upheld. While the person who trapped the animals has the right, no laws were broken in letting the animals wander free either! They could have approached the animal owners and tried to resolve the issue, but they didn't and they did NOT. How can 'neighbors' treat each other this way? With little to no regard, no compassion... just shameful!

Posted by: bubba redneck Location: sherman on May 9, 2008 at 04:57 PM
one way to keep cats off your car is hooking a battery charger electric fence battery up to the frame of the car makes a good kitty dance this also works on metal garbage cans ..also you would be amazzed how well a BB gun will work...

Posted by: cateater Location: okiehoma on May 9, 2008 at 04:41 PM
I dont like anyones animals be it dogs cats or anything else crapping in my yard and scatering trash. But the animal owners get away with their dogs biting people and their cats craping and digging in other peoples yards. Cats and dogs make good tamales tho. ha ha ha

Posted by: BJ Location: Columbus, OH on May 9, 2008 at 04:34 PM
There are cat fence products available for those who want to let their cats out, yet protect them from wandering onto neighbor's property. If you're going to let them out, properly fence your yard. Its part of being a good neighbor.

Posted by: Anonymous on May 9, 2008 at 04:30 PM
I gree that cats can be a problem but if they are bothering you all you have to do is spray them with a water gun or water hose and 9 times out of 10 they will go on. But this lady did not give the owens a change to do anything about the cat she just started doing away with them. Just think how you would feel if that happen to you dogs!

Posted by: Anonymous on May 9, 2008 at 03:35 PM
Next time you have rats & mice running around your yard you'll wish you had a cat in your neighborhood. In NRH they have a "no outside cats allowed" law, well now they are over runned by rats & mice. Go figure!

Posted by: Anonymous on May 9, 2008 at 02:52 PM
Cats on a leash..Give me a break.

Posted by: Okie on May 9, 2008 at 02:39 PM
Cats=no rats or snakes. They take out squirrels and moles too.

Posted by: Stephanie Location: Denisn on May 9, 2008 at 02:06 PM
I understand this pet owners frustration and I am an animal lover as well, I have 3 dogs that I love dearly. Unfortunately, I can also see the other side of this argument. Dog owners are expected to keep their dogs in a fence or on a leash when outdoors, however cat owners are allowed to let their cats run free. Even though cats don't pose the potential threat that dogs do, they can be a menace. I have awoken my mornings only to find that they neighborhood cats have gotten into my garbage and strung it all over my front yard. Cats claws can also do a number on your cars paint job! I think leash laws should apply to cats just like dogs.

Posted by: Anonymous on May 9, 2008 at 02:03 PM
I also have this problem in my neighborhood. As a pet owner myself I completely understand someone trying to do what is best for your pet. However as a homeowner I also believe your animals should be confined to your property. I have cats and dogs. My cats do not leave the house and they are perfectly happy. They stay in for two reasons. One I can look after them better if they are not roaming all over town, second I respect my neighbors property. I only wish they would do the same to mine. We have at least 10 different cats digging and barring in our yard we work very hard to keep looking nice, not to mention driving my animals crazy. I have also considered traps. In my opinion I should have the right to protect my property from damage no matter what is causing it. I would never harm an animal, but handing them over to animal control to me would be a lot more humane then them getting hit by a car or attacked by dogs while out on the street.

Posted by: Anonymous on May 9, 2008 at 02:03 PM
Perhaps people ought to keep their own animals on their own property. I am so SICK of neighbor's animals getting onto my property, defecating all over my yard and trampling through my garden! I can't say I blame the guy if he did trap them!

Posted by: Stephen Wright on May 9, 2008 at 01:53 PM
You can't have everything - - - where would you put it?

Posted by: Being neighborly on May 9, 2008 at 01:35 PM
Quite frankly i'm sick of neighborhood cats also. People let them run as they will, crapping in flower beds and crawling over peoples cars. It's ridiculous. Keep your cats inside or on a leash like a dog. Be a responsible pet owner and your pets on your property and you won't have any issues. On a larger scale would you like someones dog coming over and digging holes in your yard and crapping all over it, maybe jump up on the hood of the car and scratch it up nicely for you.

Posted by: justme Location: tx on May 9, 2008 at 01:31 PM
The cats are probably urinating in their flower beds. The last house I lived in, the cat next door used our flower bed as a litter box and I could not open my windows because the smell was so bad. I am an avid cat lover and would never want to see a cat disappear, but I can understand the home owners anguish if that is what is happening to them. I think if you do not want your cats to disappear, you should keep them in the house. That is the only way you know they are safe. They can get run over or trapped under houses etc. I am sure the tides would be turned if the other peoples dogs were at the womans house the lost cats and were digging up her yard.

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