Our family has been personally harmed by this issue. Our treasured family cat, Mouse, was trapped by a neighbor and relocated across state lines, left to fend for herself. The individual responsible divulged that he had carried out the same act with many other cats, including another of ours and several belonging to our neighbors. He took no steps to verify if these cats were pets, he did not take them to a vet for microchip scanning nor made any attempt to connect with the owners through neighbors or social media forums.

This act of relocating animals, particularly pets, must be addressed and prevented. We seek to make the trapping and relocating of cats illegal, unless every effort is first taken to establish that the cat is not a pet. Should that not be possible, captured 'stray' cats must be taken to an animal shelter or protection program. Once there, they should undergo procedures to get them spayed and neutered before being relocated to a safer habitat.

Failing to adhere to this due diligence, including relocating cats which haven't been spayed or neutered, should result in a class C felony. Such a move is imperative considering that over 6.5 million cats are brought into U.S. animal shelters each year, according to the ASPCA. These numbers highlight the urgency of our cause to protect the welfare of these animals.

Sign our petition and stand against the wrongful relocation of cats. Let us ensure that these beings are given the care and respect they deserve.