Weather
Man Wants Confiscated Cats BackCharged with animal crueltyA man who had 22 cats confiscated by Anchorage Animal Control over the weekend says he wants his animals back. Jim Hershberger says he doesn’t understand why he is facing a charge of animal cruelty. According to police, Hershberger’s 22 cats were loaded into four crates in his broken down car parked in an industrial area in South Anchorage where Hershberger says a friend was letting him stay. Police say the temperature inside the vehicle was between five degrees above and five degrees below zero. But Hershberger says the animals were used to living in the car, even in cold conditions. He says he was using a space heater to keep them warm but officers came right before he had a chance to fire up the heater again. Hershberger’s says he considers the cats his family and they were never abused. On Tuesday, Anchorage Animal Control said preliminary health checks on the cats show all are in fair to good condition although none are neutered or spayed. But Hershberger’s call to get the cats back isn’t likely to happen any time soon. He is facing charges of animal cruelty and it will be up to city prosecutors to decide how to proceed with the case.
|
This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled.
Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.
|
You have indicated this comment should be removed.
The comment has been submitted for review. Thank you .
Anyone Alaska said on Friday, Jan 20 at 4:11 PM
This is a affair between a private person and his property. This demonstrates how an individual's private life may be trampled on by other citizens. This is all I need to read in order to build that perimeter wall around my Spenard property. Perhaps a greater human tragedy may be sorted from the despondent kittymongers' point of view.
80180663He meant well and it was better than leaving them in Gulkana said on Friday, Jan 20 at 3:12 PM
The article fails to mention he lives in a cabin in Gulkana, he is not homeless. He drove to Anchorage and brought them with him on trip. The truck broke down and he was trying to get it fixed. He meant well and was trying to take care to them instead of leaving them at home in a frozen Gulkana cabin where it is even colder. In ideal world, he should have asked for help. Motels don’t take that many cats and a dog. Give him credit for trying to keep his “family” together. What would you do 180 miles from home with 23 animals and a dead truck? I’ve been in stuck up at Glennallen with 6 dogs and a dead van for 3 days waiting for parts in summer and that wasn’t fun living out of the van in a repair shop parking lot. What a nightmare, January in Anchorage with 23 for him and to have this happen.
80178497JUSTICE said on Friday, Jan 20 at 9:49 AM
Dosen't look like he used good judgement,but it does not look like the cats were mis-treated. His living conditions however,a car is not a place to raise cats.If he is homeless he should get a place to live & then request his cats back.He should also be required to get them spayed & neutered. He seems legit & honest.Give the poor guy a break. That is his family.
80162887catperson said on Thursday, Jan 19 at 7:12 PM
NOTHING SMALLER THAN A TREE OR MOOSE can live outside "fulltime" in this supercold.
80138307poonchkie said on Thursday, Jan 19 at 5:32 PM
As a cat boarding facility owner I know that cats can adapt to many environments but they are social animals and need space and stimulation. There is no way these cats were treated humanly or properly. They are clean animals and I can't imagine how they could have had an area to relieve themselves. I hope these cats find a home and loving people to care for them properly. I ecourage anyone concerned to donate to the cat rescue organizations here in Alaska. CCCR and ACAT as well as Friends of Pets do excelllent work rescuing cats.
80134997Add a comment
Most Popular