Posted on 05/24/2009 2:34:10 PM PDT by JoeProBono
LODI, Calif. -- A community controversy is brewing in Lodi.
A neighbor posted a sign with the words, "Hit a cat, I'll hit your kid." Some neighbors said they are concerned their children's lives are being threatened.
"Basically what this is saying is: Hit a cat and I'll hit your kid," said Tina Teixeira.
Teixeira got a lot of attention after she put the sign up in front of her West Elm Street home in Lodi.
"You don't want me to hit your kid so don't hit mine. You hurt mine, that is just like if I went over and ran over your kid. Basically, that is what I was intending," said Teixeira.
Teixeira said she decided to take action after a driver ran over and killed her cat on the bike lane on Friday.
Some parents were outraged over her cardboard note.
"Basically she is threatening to hit people's kids," said concerned neighbor Joann Larsen.
"One parent said that I was psychotic," said Teixeira.
Teixeira said she wanted to shock drivers, not harm their kids.
Teixeira said she knows her sign would upset people but she put it up because she is tired of people driving 65 mph on a 35 mph zone.
She said she noticed some cars slowing down and reading her sign so she wrote a new sign.
"After burying the cat and calming down a little bit ... (I realized) that it was a little shock value. It got attention for people, so I thought that I would put it in more understanding terms," said Teixeira.
The revised sign reads: I watch for your kids, so please watch out for mine.
"That is the whole point here is to stop hurting animals," said Teixeira.
Teixeira said she isn't shy about yelling at drivers and even her neighbors. She said she even mentioned she spit on someone to protect her cats.
Only one neighbor wanted to talk about her sign on camera. Others said they wanted to avoid any problems.
"I do like that she changed it," Larsen said.
The animal lover said she can only hope she can keep her cats from losing another life.
Teixeira said some of her feral cats don't like to stay indoors.
She said she hopes her sign will get city leaders to install speed bumps in her neighborhood, which is right near a school.
I’m sure she just had a problem with the translation! (sarc)
Ban felines and the problem is solved. /s
A blast from the past! I grew up near Lodi... haven't seen the town in over 20 years.
Oh yeah... back to the article... since the cats are feral... sorry lady... they are NOT your cats. I think the Animal control officer need to take a look at this because it sounds like the neighbors are a little wary of the "cat lady."
I’m betting that she has a worshipful 0bama sticker on her car.
It was only a matter of time!
Ping this over to Sling and Arrows.
“One parent said that I was psychotic,” said Teixeira.
-She should listen.
This area CLEARLY needs a Chinese restaurant.
I hate myself cause I love all animals, but I couldn’t help myself.
We all like critters and kids but Puhleeze! this woman is a wacka doodle
Yeesh.
I love animals (no, not in THAT way you sickos! ;) ) and would hate it if my dog or cat was run over. But that first sign was WAYYYY over the line. Upset or not, that was not the correct response for a supposed adult.
CHORUS There’s a cat in the kettle at the Peking Moon The place that I eat every day at noon. They can feed you cat and you’ll never know Once they wrap it up in dough, boy. They fry it real crisp in dough.
Chou Lin asked if I wanted more As he was dialin’ up his buddy at the old pet store. I said "Not today. I lost my appetite. There’s two cats in my belly and they want to fight." I was suckin’ on a Rolaid and a Tums or two When I swear I heard it mew, boys. And that is when I knew.
CHORUS There’s a cat in the kettle at the Peking Moon I think I gotta stop eatin’ there at noon. They say that it’s beef or fish or pork But it’s purrin’ there on my fork. There’s a hair-ball on my fork.
I seriously doubt her cat was run down intentionally. She needs to take responsibility, tend to the animals in her care, and keep them out of the road. Parents should take responsibility as well, and not allow their children to play in the road, either.
I agree. I live out in the country on a dirt road, and just had a dog killed by a car. It was my own fault for letting her run loose.
What about my birds?
Poor lil Mr. Sparrow didn’t show up for his birdseed this morning and Tabitha a big grin on her face.
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