Two Woman to Face Wetumpka Judge over Trying to Help Stray Cats
FILE – Stray cats. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)
Two women are scheduled to stand trial in Wetumpka city court where they’re accused of committing misdemeanors as they tried to feed and trap stray cats.
Mary Alston, 60, and Beverly Roberts, 84, were arrested and taken to jail by police in Wetumpka over the summer. The police chief said the women had previously been warned not to feed stray animals.
Both women, who were arrested on public property, face misdemeanor counts of criminal trespassing, the Montgomery Advertiser reported. Roberts was also charged with disorderly conduct, while Alston faced a charge of interfering with government operations.
Terry Luck, an attorney for one of the women, said they were performing a public service by trapping stray cats and having them neutered and spayed.
“There were plenty of other ways this could have been addressed without these ladies being arrested and taken to jail,” Luck said.
Wetumpka Police Chief Greg Benton said feeding the cats had created a nuisance because it attracts more animals to the area. He said both women had been “repeatedly” warned to stop prior to being arrested.
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