Frances & Mab Englehart

Spray painted cats

Bennington, VT

Winter, 1997

Frances age 79 and Mab Englehart age 73 were charged with animal cruelty for spray-painting cats that were hunting birds on their property. They plead no contest to the charges. The couple was ordered to pay $74.75 each for the veterinary bills and $400.00 in fines.

The couple agreed to go before the community reparation board as part of their sentences. According to District Court Judge Ellen Maloney, "This is a community issue which aroused community feelings and needs to be resolved by the community". Reparative Board sanctions typically include written essays discussions and community service.

The Engleharts trapped the cats in the winter of 1997, and then spray-painted them because they were chasing birds that had come to visit their bird feeder. One of the cats belonged to a neighbor, had to be shaved and spent a night in the veterinary hospital.

Reference:

The Concord Monitor