A Fenton Township, Mich., man has been arraigned on charges that he tied two cats to trees as live bait for traps.
Douglas Holtslander, 66, was arraigned on April 25 in Genesee Countys Central District Court. He's charged under an animal cruelty law of baiting with live animals, a felony offense punishable by up to four years in prison.
Holtslander is free on $7,500 personal recognizance bond. His pretrial is set for April 28.
Linden, Mich., Police Chief Pete VanDriessche told the local media that a man looking for deer found the two cats tied to separate trees in swampy woods on March 5. The wire they were tied with was about a foot long.
Three wire snares were found at the scene, and nearby animal carcasses were apparently the cats food supply.
The cats were aggressive and bit two Linden fire fighters when they were untying them, authorities said. The cats were observed by Genesee County Animal Control for 10 days and then euthanized, according to VanDriessche.
An anonymous tip in the case led police to Holtslander. In Michigan, trapping is legal, but not with live bait. VanDriessche said Holtslander told authorities he previously used dead cats that he found on the road as bait.
Posted: April 27, 2006, 5:00 a.m. EST