Last night the maintance guy who incidently lives in the building, trapped my cat and sent her to the S.P.C.A. He did this on his own time (11:00pm according to the spca people) and he knew it was my cat. I almost flattened him today when he tried to act like he was acting under the color of authority. His job is to fix stuff like leaks and such - not to harrass the tenants, trap cats and generally make life miserable. I try to keep Kat inside most of the time but at 10: pm I let her out for a little R&R and she will get out occasionally whether I like it or not Is ther a way to protect Kat from this sociopathic lamer? I'm open to anything legal.

She has a collar and id tag? I'm not sure but if she is roaming loose in the building, he might be within his legal rights. Moral rights, that's another issue.

Going to a lawyer is costly, however looking up state statutes might give you some insight. There are quite a few laws on trapping any kind of animal here in Connecticut. Also....even if he lives onsight and was not working....the company he works for can make his life REAL sticky if they think this type of situation is going to cost more than his salary. When I worked for a Realestate MGMNT CO....there were lots of very detailed rules I had to adhere to concerning residents. He's more liable than he thinks because he is stil a representitive of that CO.

The more info you get....The better.

Good Luck
Rod

you did tell him about her case of distemper..or was it parvo? maybe rabies? maybe he should go to the doctor right now..yeah, that's the ticket..;)

As long as you could get her out of the SPCA. Deal with them; if he pulls this stunt again, at least they can cut him off at the source.

You might check with the laws in your area, there's web sites full of stupid laws. Some places have leash laws (for a cat?), and there may be clauses in your lease about pets; most places do (at least that I've lived in), so if you get the law and the landlord on your side, you'll be better off..

Yes she had a collar- I introduced the maintance guy to her a couple of weeks ago. He knew who she is. Her only  "crime"  was that she was outside. As you might be able to tell I was quite angry when I wrote this. Legal rights? As of 1978 or so cats are considered property under California law. A cat wearing a collar is assumed not too be stray. She does her business inside in a catbox and even when outside is very quiet. There is no way she was being a nuisance. MaintanceDude was off duty and therefore could not be acting under "color of authority".

It might be a stretch to call it property theft but then again maybe not.  

Did I mention she just had kittens? He may have thought that if  the cat were seperated from the kittens long enough they would die of starvation. If that is the case maybe I could get P.E.T.A.  involved. Naw I'm a meat eater - they don't go for that and I think they have some bigger fish to fry.

For now all I can do is see where he sets these traps and make sure Kat doesn't spring them.

 I looked at the English term fair contract the other day under that any contract where one party sets up the terms and another is forced to agree to it peacemeal in order to to do business the terms that were not actually agreed to can be held to be invalid. I'm gonna try to find something like that in California  or U.S. Federal law just in case. I know that there are legal provisions for ownership keeping of animals in apartments that override any rental agreements if it comes to that

 I talked to the new manager about the cat  several weeks ago and she approved the cat. (she has to it's the law). but when I phoned her to find out which S.P.C.A. her minion had taken the cat to I became aware from what she said that she was behind it all. two faced? Plutakian like

i'll say. It seems odd to me that I'd go to this much trouble over a cat. $50.00 to save Kat, a friend taking off an hour and a half to go over to the west side to get her I owe him at least $40.00. and the collar and  stuff at least another $10.00 . . . aw well there's my beer money for a day or two.     

   I'm considering action - not to recover money so much but to insure this never happens again.  
I can tell you I almost blew it this time if it happens again I'll more than likely be signing my posts something like this........  

this is Malcolm Abdul Bikermouse . . .

(I really need to calm down about this - I've always had a temper but I suprised even myself this time)

• TJ

You need to write an article the gets published in a small local rag....Kind of a "Humane Interest Story". Puiblishers eat this kind of thing up. Headliner..."New Momma Kitty Trapped & Kidnapped."

Squeeky wheel doesn't just get the grease....You get your freakin boots licked.

Yes she had a collar- I introduced the maintance guy to her a couple of weeks ago. He knew who she is. Her only  "crime"  was that she was outside. As you might be able to tell I was quite angry when I wrote this. Legal rights? As of 1978 or so cats are considered property under California law. A cat wearing a collar is assumed not too be stray. She does her business inside in a catbox and even when outside is very quiet. There is no way she was being a nuisance. MaintanceDude was off duty and therefore could not be acting under "color of authority".

It might be a stretch to call it property theft but then again maybe not.  

Did I mention she just had kittens? He may have thought that if  the cat were seperated from the kittens long enough they would die of starvation. If that is the case maybe I could get P.E.T.A.  involved. Naw I'm a meat eater - they don't go for that and I think they have some bigger fish to fry.

For now all I can do is see where he sets these traps and make sure Kat doesn't spring them.

 I looked at the English term fair contract the other day under that any contract where one party sets up the terms and another is forced to agree to it peacemeal in order to to do business the terms that were not actually agreed to can be held to be invalid. I'm gonna try to find something like that in California  or U.S. Federal law just in case. I know that there are legal provisions for ownership keeping of animals in apartments that override any rental agreements if it comes to that

 I talked to the new manager about the cat  several weeks ago and she approved the cat. (she has to it's the law). but when I phoned her to find out which S.P.C.A. her minion had taken the cat to I became aware from what she said that she was behind it all. two faced? Plutakian like

i'll say. It seems odd to me that I'd go to this much trouble over a cat. $50.00 to save Kat, a friend taking off an hour and a half to go over to the west side to get her I owe him at least $40.00. and the collar and  stuff at least another $10.00 . . . aw well there's my beer money for a day or two.     

   I'm considering action - not to recover money so much but to insure this never happens again.  
I can tell you I almost blew it this time if it happens again I'll more than likely be signing my posts something like this........  

this is Malcolm Abdul Bikermouse . . .

(I really need to calm down about this - I've always had a temper but I suprised even myself this time)

• TJ

I know you were beside yourself, but you don't have to post the same message twice (at different times - grin!)

Crossposted Pakled ICM

Some very good ideas. Intentionally trapping someone's pet - now if that's not illegal it will otta be.

Where's good old George when you need him? When G Radonovich was our congressman I wrote him tens if not twentys of letters telling him what I thought. He never ageed with me but then I have only after much reflection and enlightenment learned only to bring non-partisan issues He did however write a return to every letter I wrote him. At least he was listening. Yes trapping a cat. The words seem to be there - thank God for computers using pen and paper I could never write anything comprehenable as my thoughts seem to come out in random order that way.I wonder if Lisa still works at the Fresno Bee? I wonder if she would even talk to me - another bridge burned nevermind 

As one of our more renound multirep/booleanists here in the Bryce Forum once quoted  "The hand having written moves on" if only it were so easy in real life.

sorry about that I'll try to delete it. One of the many glitches in the bikermouse eyewear system caused me to hit the wrong key and I backspaced out one to many pages so the thread I though I was posting wasn't the one I actually did 

nope too late. Best laid plans of mice and men and all that... 

If you know people you learn to love animals.

I don't know on the rules and laws at you place, so i can't help you there but i agree with the suggestion made by ICM, get this in the local newspaper, editors and readers alike like this heartwrenching stories.

Yeah I guess posting here has given me an outlet for creative writing but like I told Drac Mavis Beacon hasn't finished with me.It seems that inorder to get anything in the Fresno Bee,  the only local newspaper, these days you gotta know somebody. Aiming higher is the only alternative. It's a nice idea but perhaps a little much. Local opinion doesn't matter much to someone like that anyway; as long as they think that they have the law on their side they'll keep trying to bully people under the color of authority.()there's that word again - I think my mind is trying to tell me that is the key. Colors and authority both fade when exposed to the sunlight too long. Perhaps Kat's story will come out eventually but in the long run it won't matter much. My dad would have said "she's only a cat."

Earlier tonight a policeman came to my door stating that someone reported  that there might have still have been a problem. I had gone outside to empty some garbage.on the way back I thought I heard a sound like someone was in distress so I went to investigate.It turned out to be nothing but coincidentally it was in the general area where Maintanceman  had laid his trap the night before. After the policeman left I pulled out a dining room chair sat outside and waited. Sure enough ten or fifteen minutes later Maintainceman came out of the area I don't think he saw me this time but it doesn't matter if he did.  He played out his hand the policeman was sympathethic to my cause- I had told the truth and he knew it. I had asked him about trapping animals and he said that you could trap them humanely, and didn't think there was any way I could justify filing a complaint about Maintanceman.

At this point I though to myself that I should tell Microsoft about Maintanceman's not so authenic copy of XP but then I thought  well not so fast: that's not all I've got on him and besides I couldn't prove it. What I need here is to build an awareness of what happened here to the other pet owners in the building and those in the neighboring apartment building whose animals might stray onto this property. Thinking back on the situation where I originally confronted Maintainceman about Kat, if you didn't know the situation you might think that I had lost it and that Maintanceman was in the right. As pet owners they might understand. Still that would not be enough to change things around here but it would at the very least make Maintanceman uncomfortable enough about setting traps that he changes his behavior.

As I said before I got indications that the Aparment Manager was behind this  It is her attitude that needs to change.  Maintainceman is the type who will follow orders blindly. We've seen it in the past WW2, Korea Viet Nam the Gulf Wars I & II. and dare I say it? 911. Without them wars couldn't be fought. Petty leaders hide behind them; still there must be an answer, a peace - somewhere.

If Kat had died in that trap she might have made marter status. As it is this whole situation is just a headache and I think I need to go out and get a beer. but I'm not so plesant company when I'm like this. If I could get on a talk show but that' laughable. I know I'd laugh about someone complaining about his cat. but this is serious - last night he stole my cat tonight he called the cops on me. I can't wait for his next move. I'm starting to get the impression this isn't about Kat. Orchstrated series of events designed towards an end? If so Maintanceman couldn't have done it - he's not that smart and from what I've seen his memory is like swiss cheese.  . . Hmmmm!!!

    Anyrate thanks for listenig to my ramblings; in case he tries to kill me in my sleep should I reveal Maintanceman's true Idenity. Nah I'll let you read about it in the funny papers.

Malcolm Abdoul Bikermouse (ya know that has a ring to it ).

If only you had her agreement to accepting the animal on the premises in writing...  Then if schmuck-boy was supposedly acting under her orders, you'd at least have something to present for a case.

Also some apartments that allow pets have some rule about not letting animals wander unattended by their owner, that's another thing to watch for...  Hmm...

Other than that, you could print out some leaflets for distribution to any other pet owners in the apartments and within the neighborhood. At least then you might not be alone in this.

i know the feeling same thing happen to me i had two turkish angora's breding pair  the guy went into my apartmen when i was at work took my cats and sent them to the s.p.c.a they were worth $2500. u.s for the pair let's just say the guy walks a little funny now.

I'm still gonna persue the "fair contract" idea. Who knows? I might get lucky and find that some congressman or another read and copied the idea into a bill somewhere.. Law is not static - it changes over time.

If all else fails I could talk to my cousin who is part owner of the property and see if the owners could either let me manage the place or at least change management companies. You'd think they'd know better than to continue to let a management company which keeps extending their mortage continue to manage the place.This is either the forth or the fifth mortage coming up.

Like I said I'm waiting for this clown's next move any bets he'll try for a restraining order? That would involve court time and he has no grounds. As much as I hate courts I excell there. It would give me grounds for a counter-suit and chances are I'd get some sort of compromise where he at least keeps away from me and Kat. If he falsifies records and continues to file false reports with the police department I'm thinking he'll find the rope to hang himself with. In the meantime I'm waiting for one of the neighbors cats to get caught in his trap .  He's shown himself for what he is to me the hardest part for me is to show the self-restraint a waiting game entails to allow him time to show himself to others.  Although the manager and the management company's policies  are  the real problem, people who follow orders as well as this guy are hard to find. Chances are the next one will be better

I think it's time for you to start thinking 'outside the box'.

The maintenance guy is getting on your tits, right?

The LandLady is 2 faced, ok?

Put it about that the two of them are having an affair, selling drugs, plotting terrorist actions against the USA,  he traps pets to sell them to drug companies for experiments, she's a hooker, etc.

Post flyers warning other residents about kitty-kidnapping. Fake-up an FBI 'Most Wanted' notice/flyer with her picture on it. Slag them off on the internet - oh.....you just did that...... :biggrin:

Report them to the IRS.

I think you get the idea. But then I'm just plain mean when it comes to getting my own back.....

(Posted through IE6)

I saw the title of this thread "MISS KITTY IN TROUBLE" - and I mis-understood it - I was about to suggest a better feminine hygiene spray - or perhaps for you to start wearing boxer shorts as opposed to thongs...

I'd be upset too if they would do that to my cat (if i had one anyways) legal or not, if it's up to me u have every right to kick the guys ass in a not very gentle fashion.

"Revenge is a dish best served cold". was that "wrath of Khan", "SouthPark" or "the bible"? 

Anyrate I think one of the reasons I'm upset is that it was a betrayal of trust. He can't get that back.  Over something as petty as a cat being outside - he worked over a year to gain my trust
now that's gone. Forever.   

I did however notice he didn't  set any traps last night. Assuming that his mental condition would not allow him to fear me all that's left is that he got the cat he was looking for. I still think that this was orchistrated  and counted on my Irish getting the better of me. MaintanceMan was only cannonfodder - the originater of this plan lies higher.

In one senario  It was never the intention to get rid of Kat as much as to get me upset . The legal term is constructive eviction - create a set of circumstances whereby you have the means to evict someone in a specious mannor.  The same section 1954 that defines the rights of the landlordto enter the premises which they have abused to heavenly handgrenades defines constructive eviction and  quiet tenancy. I do have tools albiet in a limited fashon at this point to deal with this matter not in terms of Kat but in terms of myself.  

Too bad your cousin is part owner.  Otherwise I'd plan to move...  Then get some canned food product. Open some outlet covers, vents, any other small crevice...  Leave a nice "parting gift" and then cover it up right before you leave. If done right, it goes unnoticed until the odor begins. (Should be long enough after you're gone, and the maintenance man can deal with the fun.)  Heheh...

I had a talk with the manager. She said her intent was to round up strays - not to grab people's pets - expecially not those pets with 3 week old kittens.. She indicated that MaintanceMan has been taken down a peg or so. I'm still uneasy about it all, but I'm not planning revenge. If I were I'd leave one of those personals ads newspapers where his wife might find it near his front door, place an ad selling a corvette for a hundred dollars using his phone number for the contact number or something like that.  I will continue to look for legal avenues to insure this never happens again.

Thank you all for your replies! The emotional ordeal overwhelmed me for a while but as John Aston once said in Night Court: "I'm feeling much better now."

I live in Arizona and have nine cats.  Because I have witnessed a small cat being torn limb form limb outside my bedroom window  by the coyotes who roam the neighborhood nightly none of my cats go outside and they seem none the worse because of it.  Also my neighbors set out  anti-freeze to kill the feral neighborhood cats.  I have watched about a dozen cats die horrible deaths and have put several out of their misery with my .22 pellet gun.   I wish you much luck in dealing with your problem, but the easiest answer is to keep the cat indoors.

"Revenge is a dish best served cold" - Klingon Proverb ...Kill Bill Vol 1 (or 2, can't remember..;)

had a local kitty show up and made the mistake of feeding it...once..there you go. Alas, I think the local neighbors do that antifreeze thing in my neighborhood as well, which is why our 2 cats are housebound..the lazy bums..;)

hope things have settled down in the interim.

Actually, 1st time I saw this, I thought it had something to do with Bonanza..;)

If he should reset the trap, how about spraying it with some noxious substance that cats hate the smell of to keep any cats from being drawn to it? Not sure what that might be. Citrenella works good for dogs; maybe for cats also?

Pakled,
Gunsmoke. They also said it on SouthPark where they  referenced both The Bible and Wrath of Khan. BTW did you get that blurb on Shadow Warrior I sent you?

UVDan
What part of AZ? I lived in Phoenix for a while. No Coyotes there just rattlesnakes. 

A cat will get outside eventually despite your best efforts. I've warned most of the pet owners in the neighborhood by word of mouth... most were upset. About 40 percent of the apartments and 75 percent of the homeowners around here own some sort of animal- I had no Idea there were so many of us. MaintainceMan is no longer dealing with "just" me - I think he'll think twice about doing it again; as of this date he hasn't set another trap.

If someone left etheylyne glycol for my cat to drink I'd make sure they did jail time for it; Although it might not be against the law to trap a cat in a so called humane manner and send them off to the SPCA to be murdered in a week if no one picks them up, inhumane treatment of an animal is a crime punishable by jail time round here.

On a side note the Marmots in our Sierra Nevada chew through radiator hoses intentionally to get at antifreeze to get high. I always wondered why those guys acted so crazy. 

 zescanner,
I like that idea. unfortionately I have no idea what that would be.

I did get it..now where did I put it?..;) That'll teach me, I never watched Bonanza or Gunsmoke..;) I think the original quote was on Star Trek TNG, but I'm not enough of a Trekkie to figure out which of the 185 episodes it was..;)

Yeah, my cats will go into 'Houdini Mode' when I have to feed the dog..no escapes yet..

James Arness as Matt Dillion  Amanda Blake as  Miss Kitty Dennis Weaver as Chester Good.As a kid I always outdrew Matt Dillion in the opening scene (of course his gun was a lot heavier than mine - If you think weight doesn't matter try to quickdraw an  old navy colt cap and ball circa 1845- even heavier than the more recent six-shooter Matt dillion sported).
If I knew then what I know now I'da been tryin' to outdraw Rowdy Yates in Rawhide (Clint Eastwood) instead.

The following lines from 'SouthPark' shout explain my line of thinking here:
Stan:"That wasn't in The Bible Dude it was from 'Wrath of Khan'"
Kyle: "The Bible - 'Wrath of Khan' -  What's the difference?"
I think right after that Eric says:"I hate you guys - I'm goin' home."

Refer to photo in my last post:
If you look closely you can see the hint of madness in Kat's eyes. She is intent on getting outside so she can conspire with her fellow feline contemporaries to turn all mousekind into a subservient race who's sole purpose will be to forever serve cats in any manner the feline council dictates. A threat perhaps even more dastardly than that of the evil Plutarkians.

I live in East Mesa/Apache Junction.  I loved Gunsmoke, but could never figure out why Miss Kitty never had a boyfriend.   Great looking kitty cat BTW.  Who was the guy who replaced Dennis Weaver?

Festis Haggin(spelling) (Ken Gurtis) Incidentally He retired to the Shaver Lake area above Fresno.

not to mention those ol' Civil War era guns were a lot longer..;) My one foray into Civil War re-enactment (NC 42nd), was 1 day. Got to fire an Enfield percussion cap..that was heavy enough..;) Didn't like the looks some people in the audience were givin' me tho..probably Cat fanciers..;)