Arizona Man Spends $100K Feeding Town’s Feral Cats; Might Face Jail Time

An Arizona man spent around $100K to feed the town’s feral cats and his refusal to stop could end him in jail.

Sixty-four-year-old Paul Rodriguez of Gilbert had spent his own time and money for 14 years to feed the stray cats but because of a town ordinance of 2018 that banned feeding stray cats “on town-owned property or a public right-of-way”, he might be imprisoned.

According to a KNXV report, a town spokesperson said that the ordinance was created to “prevent unsanitary and unsafe conditions such as attracting vermin and wild animals”.

Brenda Curasco, public information officer of the Gilbert Police Department told ABC News that the police confronted Rodriguez about his action several times, five times in May of 2019 alone, with the final time leading to his arrest.

“You’ve been told several times that the people in this neighborhood don’t want you out here feeding the feral cats,” the arresting officer told Rodriguez in a video footage of their confrontation.

In order to go around the policy, Rodriguez transferred to another location to feed the animals.

In May 2019, Rodriguez was arrested for providing false information to an officer saying that he had gained permission from owners to feed the cats at a certain location.

He claimed that the privately-owned Southwest Gas Company allowed him to feed the cats on their property but according to the arresting officer, it was not the case, The New York Post reported.

Despite the arrest, Rodriguez continued feeding the cats and has been issued citations and fines up to $100 each.

According to him, feeding the cats helps contain them to certain areas so they can be tapped, spayed and neutered to control their population.

Rodriguez was supposed to face a trial on Tuesday but was postponed.