Judge Sentences Cat to Life Indoors for Avon-Lady Ambush

[Janice]

Judge Sentences Cat to Life Indoors for Avon-Lady Ambush

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. — A state judge spared the life of alleged neighbor-assaulter Lewis the cat on Tuesday, but ordered that he remain inside his owner's Fairfield home at all times.

"There are no exceptions. None," said Judge Patrick Carroll, who also granted accelerated rehabilitation to Lewis' owner, Ruth Cisero. That means her record will be expunged if she successfully completes two years of probation.

Cisero had faced a charge of reckless endangerment because neighbors complained that the cat's long claws and stealth have allowed it to attack at least a half-dozen people and ambush the Avon lady as she was getting out of her car.

Cisero had fought to keep Lewis alive and in Connecticut. She rejected a previous offer of accelerated rehabilitation if she agreed to euthanize Lewis.

Carroll said Lewis cannot leave the house, even if he gets out accidentally. He said the case is not about a cat, but about people having the right to live in safety in their neighborhoods.

The case drew national attention. Lewis has appeared in People magazine and his own page on the social networking site MySpace.com.

But Cisero said Tuesday she would prefer to have never had the attention. "I never thought it would come to this," she said. "It's been an absolute nightmare. It's ruined my life."

The Best Friends Animal Society of Kanab, Utah, had also offered to take Lewis free of charge. The cat sanctuary can accommodate about 600 cats in climate-controlled bungalows and has specialists who know how to handle cats with behavior problems.

"If necessary to save the life of Lewis the cat, we agree to provide Lewis with a place to live out his life at our sanctuary," Russ Mead, Best Friends' general counsel, wrote in a letter to Carroll.

Eugene Riccio, Cisero's attorney, said Lewis enjoys life in southern New England and preferred to stay here.

Mead said Lewis would be no threat to the public in Utah because the sanctuary's closest neighbor is Denny's Wigwam, a curio shop about four miles away.

The owner of the shop, Victor Sandonato, said he has already been warned that Lewis might be moving to his neighborhood.

"I live with a cat just like Lewis, and I live with danger every time I go home at night," he said, adding, "I'm from South Jersey, so I don't take any crap from a cat."

[dawsongirl]

Originally Posted by Janice

Lewis enjoys life in southern New England and preferred to stay here.

O_o It's a cat....

"I live with a cat just like Lewis, and I live with danger every time I go home at night," he said, adding, "I'm from South Jersey, so I don't take any crap from a cat."

[Chocoholic]

I'm an animal lover and I understand how people feel about their pets, but if the pet has a history of attacking people, then they should be put to sleep. I think human rights override animal rights in cases like these.

[Mijada]

That's a good thing. Lewis's owner should have kept him in the house in the first place. I hate when people let their cats roam all over the neighborhood. They can be a damn nuisance with their all night meowing, crapping in neighbors flowerbeds, getting into people's trash etc. Not to mention all the diseases they can pick up and bring back home. When I was a kid my mom had a couple cats that she would let outside all the time and they ended up getting feline leukemia from one of the neighbor cats.

[EmoJoe]

i dont know why but i find it hilarious that a cat got like...convincted o_O

[crystals]

Oh my god..run for your life...the cats are coming, the cats are coming.

Really, what good will that do to sentence the cat indoors? Like, come on people. It's a cat.

Reminds me of the cat I have. Fortunately, he stays indoors most of the time. But, I remember a few years ago in the summer I had him out on a leash on the front steps and one of the neighbours kids came to pet him and he just went ballistic and hissed and almost knocked the kid over. The kid was okay, fortunately.

What they've sentenced that cat to is just ridiculous. Did they read the cat it's rights? I wonder what "mrow" or "meow" would translate to to be used against it in a court of law.

[Janice Johnson]

Originally Posted by Janice

Carroll said Lewis.

Carroll and Lewis. Heehee......... Put the names in reverse and you will see a nice result!

[sara]

Originally Posted by Mijada

That's a good thing. Lewis's owner should have kept him in the house in the first place. I hate when people let their cats roam all over the neighborhood. They can be a damn nuisance with their all night meowing, crapping in neighbors flowerbeds, getting into people's trash etc. Not to mention all the diseases they can pick up and bring back home. When I was a kid my mom had a couple cats that she would let outside all the time and they ended up getting feline leukemia from one of the neighbor cats.

Dogs roaming around aren't good either. A few months ago a beagle followed me home when I was walking from work. Then a few weeks ago the same dog followed me while I was walking to work. The poor dog must be lonely.

[Brent88]

Sorry, but I found this story just downright hilarious.

[Mr. Television]

I don't mind cats being out. We had a cat and he was always outside. Some cats just are outdoor types. If he would have stayed inside he would have destroyed the house. Dogs are a different matter. I can't stand dogs that run loose. I used to have quite a few run-ins with them and none of them good.

[MsOrange]

could the Cat afford an attorney or was one appointed to him? Was he read his miranda rights?

[Ohio8]

Originally Posted by Mijada

That's a good thing. Lewis's owner should have kept him in the house in the first place. I hate when people let their cats roam all over the neighborhood. They can be a damn nuisance with their all night meowing, crapping in neighbors flowerbeds, getting into people's trash etc. Not to mention all the diseases they can pick up and bring back home. When I was a kid my mom had a couple cats that she would let outside all the time and they ended up getting feline leukemia from one of the neighbor cats.

That's not all. Stray cats in my neighborhood enter my yard and drive my cats nuts, and a territorial cat is TOUGH.

[spunkygirl]

My cat I had was an outside cat, I could not get him to stay inside at all. If I tried to make him stay inside he would just meow really loudly till he was let out, couldn't get any sleep if I didn't let him out

[Mr. Television]

Originally Posted by Hart Slater

My cat I had was an outside cat, I could not get him to stay inside at all. If I tried to make him stay inside he would just meow really loudly till he was let out, couldn't get any sleep if I didn't let him out

exactly some cat's are just outdoor types. They get restless indoors. I've never been afraid when I was out walking and I saw a stray cat. I'd just say Hey kitty kitty.

[TJL]

That cat got off easy. Damn liberal court system!