Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Boy Charged For Meowing At Neighbor Lady
ClickonDetroit ^ | August 23, 2006 | AP

Posted on 08/23/2006 11:49:41 AM PDT by ShadowDancer

Boy Charged For Meowing At Neighbor Lady

Family Gave Cat Away After Neighbor's Complaints

POSTED: 2:26 pm EDT August 23, 2006

JEANNETTE, Pa. -- Meow. A Pennsylvania judge is being asked to decide whether that word is a harmless taunt or grounds for misdemeanor harassment.

Police have charged a 14-year-old boy with that crime. Michael Loughner is accused of meowing whenever he sees his 78-year-old neighbor, Alexandria Carasia.

The boy's family got rid of their cat after Carasia complained that it was using her flower garden as a litter box. Now, she said, the boy makes meowing sounds every time he sees her.

He said he's only meowed at her twice.

"I've had to put up with this for three years," Carasia said. "As I walk by, I see Michael and his mother. He got on the porch and hid behind the bamboo screen and starts meowing. If I don't make this stop now, they're going to keep doing this to me. I shouldn't have to worry about walking out of the house and being harassed by this young kid."

Loughner said that on July 23 he went out to hold his dog so it wouldn't leave the yard as Carasia walked by.

"She was walking through and she kept looking at us," he testified. "I grabbed the dog so it wouldn't leave the yard. When I put my head down, I meowed."

He said that was one of the two times he's ever meowed at the woman, the Pittsburgh Tribune Review reported.

"As she walked in front of the house, nothing was said," the boy's mother, Sally Loughner, told the court. "He stepped off the porch to make sure the dog didn't get out. As he reached down and got the dog, he said, 'Meow.' ... She said, 'Do you want me to call the cops again?' I said, 'Go ahead, he hasn't done anything wrong.'"

There is a history of disputes between the neighbor, saccording to the paper.

Sally Loughner told the court that she ended up sending her cat to live with family members so that she could "keep peace in the neighborhood."

Defense attorney David Martin Jr. asked that the case be dropped.

"This should never have been filed," Martin said. "This is not something that police should be wasting their time with or wasting the court's time."

The judge heard from both parties Tuesday. He decided to wait 90 days before ruling, saying he'll decide what to do after seeing how the boy and his neighbor get along in the meantime.


TOPICS: Local News
KEYWORDS: battycattywoman; catfight; cattywoman; generalcatroom; generalchatroom; lawsuitabuse; loserpays; meow; nannystate; tortreform
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 121-140141-160161-180181-186 next last
To: ShadowDancer

I know that putting them in a kennel while you are gone works, but that has always seemed a bit too confining for an active puppy to me-I put up that toddler-proof fencing in an area of the utility room and put my puppy, her food, water, bed and toys in there when I was gone, and that worked just fine.


141 posted on 08/23/2006 2:35:13 PM PDT by Texan5 (You've got to saddle up your boys, you've got to draw a hard line...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 139 | View Replies]

To: pissant

I'm sure he will after this!


142 posted on 08/23/2006 2:46:16 PM PDT by lesser_satan (EKTHELTHIOR!!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: ApplegateRanch

When I moved into this area I found the old man across the street to be a complete cranky SOB who liked nothing anyone else did and complained constantly. Now he is a friendly old coot, smiling, passing the time day, etc. What, you might ask, brought about this big change? His wife died. True story....I kid you not


143 posted on 08/23/2006 3:03:16 PM PDT by Bogtrotter52 (Reading DU daily so you won't hafta)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 83 | View Replies]

To: ShadowDancer

In a society like ours has become, where an ordinary citizen can be criminalized at the drop of a hat, this kind of thing is the tip of the iceberg to come.


144 posted on 08/23/2006 3:16:05 PM PDT by Continental Soldier
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ShadowDancer

She should have just thrown him some catnip and be done with him.


145 posted on 08/23/2006 3:19:11 PM PDT by diamond6 (Everyone who is for abortion have been born. Ronald Reagan)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Texan5

That's pretty much what I did with my first dog when I worked. With this one I'm at home so I was able to let him outside constantly. I never could bring myself to do the cage thing.


146 posted on 08/23/2006 3:23:04 PM PDT by ShadowDancer (No autopsy, no foul.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 141 | View Replies]

To: AnotherUnixGeek

***I don't suppose buying a real litter box and keeping their cat inside was an option? Or would that have been too much work?***

All they had to do was dig a space in their yard, fill it with sand, and the cat would have been happy to stay home. Cats have to dig after defecating to hide it from their enemies. A little shovel work now and then, and some new sand and the problem is solved.


147 posted on 08/23/2006 4:17:43 PM PDT by kitkat (The first step down to hell is to deny the existence of evil.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 35 | View Replies]

To: mom4kittys
"Maybe we should shoot retarded people as well since they don't know any better"

Getting a little off-topic aren't you? Not to mention a little off color.
148 posted on 08/23/2006 5:11:32 PM PDT by Dixie Yooper (Ephesians 6:11)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 133 | View Replies]

To: Texan5

Back when I had a dog,1968, that was the method for house breaking a dog, and the only vets around were for livestock.
Now a days, I trying to train my neighbors dogs that roam not to crap in my yard, and my neighbors cats that roam not to hunt for birds at my bird feeders. My neighbors think their pets are wonderful people that wouldn't do such a thing.


149 posted on 08/23/2006 5:19:05 PM PDT by Dixie Yooper (Ephesians 6:11)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 137 | View Replies]

To: originalbuckeye

Your neighbor sounds like a real winner


150 posted on 08/23/2006 5:22:25 PM PDT by Dixie Yooper (Ephesians 6:11)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 134 | View Replies]

To: ShadowDancer; All
Some people have a problem with Cildren and pets


Go figure.

151 posted on 08/23/2006 5:31:06 PM PDT by MrEdd (More cheep than a flock of baby chickens.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Dixie Yooper

I think it is off color to shoot innocent animals who have no concept of a property line. You seem to have pleasure doing so.


152 posted on 08/23/2006 5:54:13 PM PDT by mom4kittys (If velvet could sing, it would sound like Josh Groban)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 148 | View Replies]

To: Tokra

"...puts his front paws on either side of the door knob and literally turns the knob..."

Our Persian, Mimi, did that when she was younger, but she couldn't quite get enough grip and torque to make it go. She knew what to do, though.

My tabby Larry used to open every door he could - like kitchen and bathroom cabinets, etc., while we were at work. You'd come home and it looked like loons lived here.


153 posted on 08/23/2006 6:43:57 PM PDT by Felis_irritable
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 71 | View Replies]

To: Dixie Yooper

Disgusting, trashy people. Keep praying for nice, quiet people to move in but, so far, no luck!


154 posted on 08/23/2006 7:00:07 PM PDT by originalbuckeye
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 150 | View Replies]

To: mom4kittys

If you feel so strongly about it, go ahead and let the cats out for the night!


155 posted on 08/23/2006 7:54:28 PM PDT by Dixie Yooper (Ephesians 6:11)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 152 | View Replies]

To: Dixie Yooper

Why, so people like you can get your jollies and shoot innocent creatures for pure pleasure? Disturbing. This planet was meant to cohabitate with other creatures you know. It's not like this animal posed a threat to this woman.


156 posted on 08/23/2006 8:06:52 PM PDT by mom4kittys (If velvet could sing, it would sound like Josh Groban)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 155 | View Replies]

To: pissant; ShadowDancer

"Gustafson! Every day for 20 years your cat has crapped on my paper!"

Cheers!

157 posted on 08/23/2006 8:21:45 PM PDT by grey_whiskers
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Dixie Yooper
What do you think a cat hiding under my bird feeder has in mind for the birds?

You have a bird feeder? You would shoot at cats for going to the bathroom once in a blue moon but you encourage birds to eat and crap all over your surrounding area. Lovely.

158 posted on 08/23/2006 8:42:18 PM PDT by ShadowDancer (No autopsy, no foul.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 130 | View Replies]

To: grey_whiskers

Great flick!! LOL


159 posted on 08/23/2006 9:13:37 PM PDT by pissant
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 157 | View Replies]

To: Graybeard58

Nip it in the bud, nip it I say.<<<<

Soundtrack, anyone? I accidentally deleted mine.


160 posted on 08/23/2006 9:43:17 PM PDT by Mjaye
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 121-140141-160161-180181-186 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson