Question

If someone is threatening to trap and kill my cat, who is microchipped and has a collar, what can I do?

Answer

I am sorry to hear about your situation. Keeping your cat indoors would prevent people from trapping and harming your cat. Depending on the relationship with the person making the threats, an animal’s “parent” can also try to get a protection order. Michigan law states that the person seeking the order may seek to enjoin “… Any of the following with the intent to cause the petitioner mental distress or to exert control over the petitioner with respect to an animal in which the petitioner has an ownership interest: (i) Injuring, killing, torturing, neglecting, or threatening to injure, kill, torture, or neglect the animal…(ii) Removing the animal from the petitioner’s possession. (iii) Retaining or obtaining possession of the animal.” People who believe an animal is being mistreated should contact the police, local humane societies, SPCA (society for the prevention of cruelty to animals), and other entities in their area that enforce animal protection laws. Please do your best to keep your cat out of harm’s way.

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