Jim Stevenson openly admitted he shot a feral cat with a .22 caliber rifle because he believed it was going to kill an endangered bird. The prominent bird-watcher was charged with animal cruelty, which sparked heated debates between bird-watchers and cat-lovers alike.
At the heart of the case was whether or not the cat was owned. When Stevenson shot the cat on Nov. 8, 2006, Texas’ animal cruelty law only applied if the animal belonged to someone. A toll booth employee, John Newland, stated that he cared for the cat, providing the stray with bedding, food and toys.
Jurors were unable to reach a unanimous verdict in Stevenson’s November trial. The judge declared a mistrial, and the district attorney opted not to retry the case. Paige Lynne Santell, the assistant district attorney who prosecuted Stevenson, provided insight into the case in an interview with Alley Cat Allies, a nonprofit organization that aims to raise awareness about feral cat populations.
“[Newland] cried when even discussing this matter. He cried on the scene when the officers came,” Santell said. “He was highly emotional because he has feelings invested here.”
Since the incident, cruelty laws were strengthened to make it illegal to kill feral cats and stray dogs. The law took effect Sept. 1, 2007 — before Stevenson’s trial began, but after the incident occurred.
“I think that this law helps people like John Newland because it protects the animals that they care so much about. I’m very, very, very proud of the work we did on this,” Santell said. “And people have asked me, would I do this again, and you bet, because, I mean, I’m proud of the work we did …We played a part in getting that law developed and changed. And I think it’s important.”
In a related case, Newland is set to appear in court Monday on a misdemeanor charge of keeping too many animals, according to the Galveston County (Texas) Daily News. He is accused of feeding 15 to 20 cats; the city prohibits residents from keeping more than four cats or dogs.