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Letter to the Editor: Does ban meet legal definition of cruelty?

(Letter to the Editor - Photo Illustration - MetroCreativeConnection)

I attended the local city council August meeting in Parkersburg. They passed (to go into effect in six months) an animal feeding ban in a local park. Several individuals (community caregivers) in that area have been feeding the stray and feral cats. The ban would result in these cats starving. One council member said “they would find something to eat.”

These cats have become dependent on the community caregivers for their food. The discontinuance of the food is knowingly and intentionally cruel and will lead to death by starvation.

WV Code 61-8-19 Cruelty to animals, penalties; exclusions states:

(a)(1) It is unlawful for any person to intentionally, knowingly or recklessly,

(C) withhold;

(i) proper sustenance, including food or water.

It is my understanding after reading the code that it does not distinguish between an individual or groups (such as a city council) nor between public and private land to knowingly or intentionally harm an animal.

Is the city council in violation of WV Code 61-8-19 (a) (1) by passing this feeding ban and starving these cats?

Barbara Radiker

Parkersburg

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