It’s a good day for TNR (trap, neuter, return) efforts nationwide when the case against two women practicing TNR in Alabama has been halted. The women were arrested and charged after being told by city officials not to feed or trap cats near the municipal courthouse. They returned anyway, but probably didn’t expect what came next. While we never promote breaking the law, this response seems questionable for the type of situation that SHOULD be managed by the city [opinion].
Wetumpka Mayor Jerry Willis had called the assistant chief of police when he saw one of the women’s cars there. But he claims he didn’t order the arrests.
Now, Elmore County Circuit Court Judge J. Amanda Baxley approved the prosecutors’ motion to no longer pursue charges against them.
“Wetumpka prosecutors did not give a reason for halting the cases and Baxley did not say why she was granting the motions,” wrote AL.com.
Beverly Roberts, 85, outside the Wetumpka City Council during the hearing on charges of trespassing and disorderly conduct. The charges stemmed from her activities feeding and trapping cats via AL.com
Cuffed While Attempting TNR to Help Feral Cats
On June 25, 2022, Beverly Roberts, 85, and Mary Alston, 61, were shockingly arrested and cuffed in Wetumpka, a small town north of Mongomery. They were trying to TNR cats living near the municipal courthouse and believed they were doing the city of favor by doing so. Through TNR, cats are fixed, often vaccinated, and returned so they can no longer create kittens needing rescue.
Later, police footage of the arrests was enough to leave your mouth wide open.
“Y’all have three cop cars because I’m feeding cats?” one of the Alston asked. “It’s unbelievable.”
Screenshots via YouTube
The women were placed in handcuffs, and Roberts was struggling as they attempted to get her in the police car with her hands cuffed behind her back.
Robertson was later charged with a disorderly conduct misdemeanor after calling the arresting officer a “son of a bitch.”
Fancy Feast Fiasco?
Meanwhile, Alston faced “charges of interfering with government operations” after being found in “possession of Fancy Feast” by Wetumpka Police Officer Brendan Foster.
Albama.com featured a satire cartoon by J.D. Crowe about the “Fancy Feast feral cat lady terrorists” of Wetumpka.
Image via AL.com
Neither of the women could believe what was happening to them as they tried to help the cats. And neither could thousands of people who saw the disturbing body cam footage as three patrol cars surrounded Alston’s car.
Later, the officers returned and found Alston and Roberts together. That’s when the arrest occurred, and then a day-long trial in December led to guilty charges.
Both were charged with third-degree trespassing, two years unsupervised probation, and a $50 fine plus court costs for each charge. Wetumpka Municipal Judge Jeff Courtney also added a (later suspended) sentence of 10 days in jail for both women.
Video of the body cam footage from the Wetumpka Police Department via AL.com:
Misunderstandings About TRN
We’re glad to know these two women’s charges have been dropped. But this case has also brought so much pawsitive focus to TNR efforts. They believe, as rescuers worldwide do, that TNR helps solve the feral cat population problem. Will they be able to go back to TNR efforts? We don’t know yet.
“Following the women’s arrests, Elmore County officials said the cats had become a costly nuisance and that Roberts and Alston made the problem worse. However, Alston and Roberts said their efforts could have helped control the surplus cat population.”
TNR Helps Cats and People Too
There seems to be a big misunderstanding about TNR and how it helps. Officials believed they were making the problem worse as the cat became a “costly nuisance.” At trial, a city official claimed the cat food and trash in the parking lot for county vehicles attracted “cats and buzzards,” which caused costly damage. They suggested a cat had somehow burrowed through “a steel barrier between the engine and passenger cab, and into a truck.” A feral cat expert explained that cats don’t chew through metal, suggesting it was more likely rodent damage. Cats would help control rodents.
Representatives from the Humane Society and Alley Cat Allies explained that TNR successfully manages feral cat populations nationwide. Furthermore, the women were dedicated to helping the animals, a compassionate choice taken voluntarily.
“Compassion is not a crime,” said Alley Cat Allie’s director Alice Burton. “These are good Samaritans that should be applauded and not handcuffed.”
It’s not clear what has happened to the feral cats living in the area, but we hope that TNR efforts continue. It’s the humane approach to helping them and could help relocate and find homes for the cats. Spaying and neutering help reduce aggression and noise and helps to keep cats healthy. So by doing it, everyone wins. No handcuffs necessary and Fancy Feast is definitely optional.
