Killing nuisance animals?

[86-43]

I'm not very big on hunting/animal laws here in our great state, so hopefully one or some of you guys can help me out.

My next door nieghbor kind of 'inherited' some stray cats when the moved in years ago. The previous resident fed and watered these stray cats, so they all stayed around and now the new nieghbors feed them too, so they are everywhere. There are probably about 10 of them, and I think about 6 of them are sick and gross. They climb up my pine tree in my front yard and torment our dogs, crap all over my yard and won't stay out of my garage. They die all the time and the nieghbors just leave them in the street and they stink and attract other animals.

They don't belong to anybody, they are just strays that stay around because the neighbor's feed them. I'm not a big fan of the nieghbors, but that's another story that I'll tell if anybody cares.

Is it illegal to shoot these cats if they are a nuisance?

I was thinking just an air rifle would probably work ok. I live in a small town, right on the edge of town, and all the other nieghbors have been hinting that they wouldn't mind if the cats all disappeared either.

[L-1]

I don't know if it will run afoul of your animal cruelty laws, but even if it's legal, if anyone finds out, shooting them will raise a big stink that you don't need considering the nature of your employment.

Consider a couple of options.

1. See if animal control will trap and remove feral cats for you.

2. If not, do it yourself. You can purchase a live raccoon trap. Throw a can of tuna in it and every time you catch a cat, drive it 20 miles away and let it loose in the woods.

3. Consider a sonic animal repellent device. They are horrible and will drive dogs and cats from the area. A friend had one and he cleared all the cats from his property in a week. This is not the one he used, but it is similar. http://cgi.ebay.com/Sonic-Laser-Dog-...d=p3286.c0.m14

[86-43]

I don't know if it will run afoul of your animal cruelty laws, but even if it's legal, if anyone finds out, shooting them will raise a big stink that you don't need considering the nature of your employment.

Consider a couple of options.

1. See if animal control will trap and remove feral cats for you.

2. If not, do it yourself. You can purchase a live raccoon trap. Throw a can of tuna in it and every time you catch a cat, drive it 20 miles away and let it loose in the woods.

3. Consider a sonic animal repellent device. They are horrible and will drive dogs and cats from the area. A friend had one and he cleared all the cats from his property in a week. This is not the one he used, but it is similar. http://cgi.ebay.com/Sonic-Laser-Dog-...d=p3286.c0.m14

I had considered the consequences, considering what my job is. I guess that's why I was asking if it's legal. I know I would be the hero of all the other nieghbors around, but Im sure someone else, someWHERE else would pitch a fit. I live in a town of 600 people, we don't have animal control. I can't use a sonic repeller, I have a dog that lives outside and I would prefer not to annoy him 24/7

[Iowa #1603]

Looks legal to me


You could make a good case that the cats have become feral (and thus wild)
Find a .22.....................DONT USE THE GLOCK

Iowa code =======

717B.2 Animal abuse.

A person is guilty of animal abuse if the person intentionally injures, maims, disfigures, or destroys an animal owned by another person, in any manner, including intentionally poisoning the animal. A person guilty of animal abuse is guilty of an aggravated misdemeanor. This section shall not apply to any of the following:

1. A person acting with the consent of the person owning the animal, unless the action constitutes animal neglect as provided in section 717B.3.

2. A person acting to carry out an order issued by a court.

3. A licensed veterinarian practicing veterinary medicine as provided in chapter 169.

4. A person acting in order to carry out another provision of law which allows the conduct.

5. A person taking, hunting, trapping, or fishing for a wild animal as provided in chapter 481A.

6. A person acting to protect the person's property from a wild animal as defined in section 481A.1.

7. A person acting to protect a person from injury or death caused by a wild animal as defined in section 481A.1.

8. A person reasonably acting to protect the person's property from damage caused by an unconfined animal.

9. A person reasonably acting to protect a person from injury or death caused by an unconfined animal.

10. A local authority reasonably acting to destroy an animal, if at the time of the destruction, the owner of the animal is absent or unable to care for the animal, and the animal is permanently distressed by disease or injury to a degree that would result in severe and prolonged suffering.

11. An institution, as defined in section 145B.1, or a research facility, as defined in section 162.2, provided that the institution or research facility performs functions within the scope of accepted practices and disciplines associated with the institution or research facility.

717B.6 Destruction and disposition of wild animals.

A person may humanely destroy a wild animal as defined in section 481A.1, if the wild animal is permanently distressed by injury or disease to a degree that results in severe and prolonged suffering. The destroyed animal shall be subject to disposition as provided by rules adopted by the natural resource commission pursuant to chapter 17A.

[Entre Nous]

2. If not, do it yourself. You can purchase a live raccoon trap. Throw a can of tuna in it and every time you catch a cat, drive it 20 miles away and let it loose in the woods.

Or once the cat is trapped, you could take it to the closest animal shelter or animal rescue. If the cats are used to getting food and water from the neighbor, being left alone in the woods could mean a slow death for them. It's not the cats' fault that they're in this situation. I'm sure they would have happily been housecats, if fate hadn't decided otherwise.

[David Hineline]

I can fix your dept. up with a silenced 22lr for pest control usage so you don't bother the residents with loud sounds.

[86-43]

I can fix your dept. up with a silenced 22lr for pest control usage so you don't bother the residents with loud sounds.

This would be for personal use, not a department or city issue.

[David Hineline]

In Iowa it has to be a dept. issued weapon to you.

[86-43]

Well, we don't do animal control unless it's killing injured deer, and I don't live in the city I work.

[Iowa #1603]

Like I said before--------------it's legal................see the IC reference.



Just as long as none of the neighbors complain---------------and you would probably be ok since they would complain to 6-1 or one of his people.....and just who happens to be a part time deputy???????????????????????

I am sure you could articulate the fact that the animals were sickly and you didn't want the disease to spread to other "tame" animals.

Next time you are in town stop and see Ernie.............I'm sure he has a .22 in stock.

[DAL]

It might be illegal to discharge a firearm in the town limits.

Seems to me that 717B.2 literally does not apply because the cats are not owned by anyone -- just like the peafowl in my neighborhood. I don't know whether it has been interpreted to include wild animals; one would expect that less justification would be needed to kill a wild animal.

717B.6 does not apply because the animals are not injured.

All the cats seem to have disappeared from my neighborhood. The coyotes and mountain lions are hungry,

[86-43]

There seems to be a Remington .177 air rifle on it's way to my house, mysteriously, and by complete suprise. Whatever shall I do with it?

[Iowa #1603]

There seems to be a Remington .177 air rifle on it's way to my house, mysteriously, and by complete suprise. Whatever shall I do with it?

I seem to remember most of them fire high and to the right

[DMS 525]

Back in the early 80's, my folks lived in this small town in northern Iowa. My Dad finally got fed up with this pack of stray cats, and went to the city council to complain. Local LE in that town was a joke, and the city claimed there was nothing they could do. Dad simply told them he has a solution- his .22 Magnum revolver!! Mayor and all the council members all looked at each other, then the Mayor told Dad to be careful where he shot.

My Dad happened to be a crack shot, and he just didn't shoot in any direction. He'd set bait in his back yard, where there happened to be a good backstop, and one by one, POW! Within a month or so, he'd shot most of the stray cats plaguing that town.

As for disposing; a black garbage bag and a short walk to the river took care of that!