The City of Beverly Hills is trying to put a 65 Year Old in Jail for feeding Stray Cats

[themalina92]

The best way to feed feral cats is to feed them at night. Be discreet by putting food under cars, under bushes, behind dumpsters, etc. There are too many harsh people out there, who would rather see starving animals suffer than be fed.

Under NO circumstances engage in conversations with the locals or tell anybody about your caring of the feral cats.

[mszsu]

A certified caretaker feeding starving cats? Is this what it takes to go to jail? What is going on with our society.

[michiko3050]

We all should be doing what this 65 years old lady is doing. why some people are

so ignorant about these poor animals.What happened to this woman. She should be rewarded not arrested !!!!!!!

[Lexiepitbull]

people are really screwed up. the government is out for money...jail is for bad guys, not for good guys

[Soralella71]

I really hate humans (not animal lovers of course).

[JADEAV]

I guess Beverly Hills is allergic to the cats.....ha

[kuku615]

some body tries to something good and you put them in jail .... OMG

[bluebe123]

i dont get it, why did she get arrested for feeding stray animals? old ladies feed pigeons all hte time? was she feeding them pigeon food?

[1grandmajoyce]

This brings tears to my eyes; this compassionate lady deserves a medal, not jail time! How awful! God bless her. What happened at court?

[YouToo714]

That's it. I've seen enough bullcrap descisions in Beverly hills. Somebody get me a shovel to kill the idiots who made that rule and some cat food to feed the kitties.

[PAPERGUNLOVER]

what is wrong with them,wouldn't you want food if you were hungry jezze wats wroght with beverly hills

[JacketTalent]

WTH?!  That's so messed up! I trap-neuter-return feral cats! Want to prosecute me too? Idiots.

[rrrina]

Kudos to Ms. Varjian and to Animal News for a great job covering this story. The only remedy is education. I do TNR, and a good portion of it involves educating the publicabout feral cats. I hope she wins this ridiculous case.

What a society we live in, where people are punished for being kind.

[ChristinaMariah]

that is so stupid. who else is gonna feed them

[GoddessOfCats]

Put her in jail for feeding hungry cats?! Beverly Hills WTF?!

[tubethis82]

y dont you punish people for feeding money to the residents of beverly hills. people like pink and britney spears to name a few lol MUHAHAHAHA

[MrAlexbradley]

i want to hear a valid argument against this

[randomwire]

@MrAlexbradley "i want to hear a valid argument against this" +1

[MrAlexbradley]

stupid beverly hills

[pikapower96]

....what was the outcome?

was she sent to jail?

[mooochael]

I vehemently oppose Ms. Varjian's actions, she should feed humans.

[pikapower96]

....how about this, go with out food for a week, and then you will understand what they are going throught, oh, and try staying outside, every night in the shivering COLD! i HATE people like you!

I hope your home becomes infested with RATS!

[mooochael]

Listen, she shouldn't be punished for feeding cats, that's egregious.

However, I think it would be better to feed the "feral people" who live, starve, and suffer on the streets of Los Angeles.

[pikapower96]

...you mean the lazy bums that spend thier money on crack?

[randomwire]

@mooochael It's true, that is also a problem, but we can't force her to spend her money end effort on the drug-problem, if she rather use it to solve the cat-problem.

[MeOnYT]

Who are these stupid, horrible, ignorant monsters that are trying to stop this woman? If these morons are elected officials, the best way to solve the problem is to vote them out of office.

[DuBarryFilms]

Just let the MYRIAD of RODENTS there run all the people out!

[DuBarryFilms]

That's WHY California is on fire and suffers other tragic judgements as well. ANybody who is anybody knows that Beverly Hills is corrupt and dirty so at leasat me and my friends no longer go down there..now it's totally about UTAH!

[TheMia168]

It's a completely MISuse of the court system.

[TheMia168]

We can't convict O.J. Simpson for double murders, but we certainly can put this old lady in jail for saving animals. BULLIES!

[penguinking123456789]

^ perfect comment

[jadizdax]

What has happened to these people, they don't have anything better to do than accused an innocent person of good deeds???? What ever happened to animal cruelty laws??? This is absolutely outrageous, if not, ridiculous!!! Boy, this is really pathetic, if you ask any of us.

[jadizdax]

What is this country coming to?? This is absolutely ridiculous, if not, outrageous!! The ones which are cruel go free and the ones that care go to jail??? What is wrong with these people?? She should be awarded instead of serving time, for something good that she is doing????

[slboerum]

I and my family are going through something very similar, our manager has made it known anyone seen feeding strays will be evicted, and I've even seen my neighbor "counting" cats, of course she lied about it - she said she was looking for her cat, and when i asked her in a local store if she found it she acted as if she had no idea what I was talking about, I think because she was with her husband. But I can't and won't let them starve.

[duncanlover]

I don't understand what her crime is-this woman is just helping out-this is totally ridiculous. And the people who abandon their cats are totally irresponsible so???

Renate

[liblahil]

That's so stupid. She shouldn't be thrown in jail for helping animals that would die without food or shelter. It's inhumane to leave an animal to starve and die. Who wouldn't support her?

[TheRadicalreels]

At my apartments where I live, I could get evicted if

I was caught feeding a stray Cat! Such a stupid Law! The reason there are so many animals in shelters is because the City charges too much for them to have their shots! Most people can afford the food, but not the shots! The City even makes money when they are adopted! There should be a Law on this! Oops, that is the Cities Law!

This Lady deserves a reward! Again, the City has control over everything!

[hot2hndle692006]

OMG, I just can't believe what I am hearing. She needs to be awarded not punished. The ones that do cruelty to animals gets away with it, and the one who helps them gets into trouble. Beverly Hills is crazy!

[FAHolland]

OMG ....!!! An animal lover is being prosecuted for caring!! Something is totally wrong with this picture!

[israella]

its sounds like germany in 1933 just change the word cats to jews

AMERICA SHAME ON YOU !!!!!

[1217dmason]

Whatever happened to cruelty to animals? The people who abandon their pets and don't spay and neuter are guilty of cruelty. It isn't hard to go after some of those who abandon pets. When someone moves from your neighborhood and their pet is left behind, go after them, prosecute them, fine them. It isn't difficult to find someone's new address. Honestly, what a waste of time to go after this woman who is cleaning up everyone else's mess. Beverly Hills should be ashamed of itself.

[Aldenif]

Wow!!! Possible jail time for doing something good, something positive, and something beneficial. What has the judicial system come to. How pathetic. It seems as though one should not do anything else besides their regular daily routine. Work, home, work, home, work, home, work, home. Just to keep themselves out of trouble with the law.

[NWKBricks1]

Why were people recording her feeding cats? What important information did they gather? I never understood people like that. Maybe, sadly they just don't have anything else to do with their time.

[mrkittykare]

They should be going after the people that abandon their cats. They should be grateful for the volunteers that are doing TNR and maintaining these cats. Cats a living beings and should be feed. They are helping the city with donated money and not taxpayers money.

Diane & Dave, Spay Neuter and Protect Spays in NJ

[KingReef777]

Where there is no love, even creation is a curse.

[msjennabelle]

Fined for feeding homeless animals? Insane! And under a law that is not longer on the books?! This woman should be thanked and commended for her efforts and good deeds! Cats are DOMESTIC ANIMALS even if they are feral! We must all do what we can to help Ms. Varjain and the kitties! Atten the BH City Council Meeting July 7th!

[bojeaux]

It's a good thought, but there is no starving feral cat colony in our area.

Ms. Varjian's attorney can hopefully make a deal to avoid arrest as long as she will not violate the law.

It is unreasonable for people who do not live in our area to insist that they know more about what is going on here than we do, and that they should decide on our laws.

I am a cat lover and in addition to our (rescued) pets, we have adopted two semi-feral cats which we feed legally, within our enclosed yard.

[abcmole]

There are no cats in your area? Then how is Ms. Varjian feeding them? She feeds figments, then? How is that a 'violation' of 'law'?

Law? What law?

The ordinance was deleted.

I assume even in Beverly Hills the Constitution and ex post facto still applies?

Only animals in 'enclosed' places should 'feed', legally' is that correct?

Very kind... should that extend to all animals, to only cats, or just 'feral' cats?

I'm just trying 'reason' out of this.

[bojeaux]

Katherine Varjian is leaving food in our alleys which is eaten by coyotes, rodents, peoples' outdoor cats which are drawn by the food into the alleys where it is unsafe for them, and some residents have to clean up uneaten food.

The ordinance was in effect when violated, and before she was cited, she was asked by many to stop littering our alleys.

Which is more likely: Varjian being wrong and unhinged, or loads of residents in the subject area being wrong, cruel, and heartless?

[bojeaux]

This video is very one-sided, and in fact the interviewer only sought statements from pro-Varjian people who incorrectly assume that there is a starving feral cat colony in B.H. In fact, she is mistaking our pets for feral cats. Varjian is littering our alleys with food which draws coyotes, rats, roaches, and diseases. We have to clean up the food. Let's replace the emotion with fact finding, not false facts and insults. The residents where this is occurring are much more knowledgeable.

[bearbeadcat]

Darian, instead of rounding up your neighbors and getting them to sign a petition against Ms. Varjian, why don't all of you work with her to reduce the stray/feral cat population in your neighborhood. Just a thought...

[purrmoon]

Too many people in too many public offices are totally out of it when it comes to COMPASSION! TNS works. This woman should be praised, not condemned.

[adembasou]

The City is CRAZY! I fully support her and I have only One Thing to say to the City of Beverly Hills:

SHAME ON YOU! You should be locked for NOT feeding dependable Animals! And its NOT like BH doesnt have Money :( MORE SHAME!!! KUDOS to Katherine!!! YOU ARE A ANGEL

[stargrlskater]

Katharine, hang in there , God will have the final word with HIS creatures, all of them! Us too!!!

[shaynieaero]

It is just cruel for  Beverly Hills to bar a woman from feeding starving cats and kittens!It is a type of terrorism....

[shaynieaero]

How cruel of Beverly Hills to even think of jailing a woman who feeds starving kittens and cats!I guess they are trying to be like Auchswitz.

[doggieskye]

Wow. This is pretty ridiculous... going to jail for feeding a living thing. These "law-makers" and people of that "justice" system need to be reminded that animals were created first. They were the ones who were on earth first and it is God who instructed humans to take care of the animals. Humans have ruined the earth and made it difficult for animals to find food in safety, so why jail the good people who have the heart to take care of helpless animals instead of making things worse?

[stargrlskater]

What a great e-mail

[1lillylangtree]

City of Beverly Hills are the criminals! This is horrible. We cannot allow this woman to be prosecuted for helping animals. We need laws toto prosecute animal abusers, not prosecute loving people. WE need more people to care like her.

[lorik716]

LORI FROM CARE 2!!! This is B.S.,and the law their is a friggen joke!!!!!!!! Thank God for angels like Ms. Varjian!!! Pray for her and these IDIOTS harrasing her!!! I live in FLORIDA,and Feed Feral Cats ALL the time,come and arrest me you damn IDIOTS!!!!!

[Avoice4theUnheard]

This is CRAZY! SPEAK UP PEOPLE!

[KatiaRenegade]

Ridiculous! Shouldn't we be fining and arresting the people who are following Varjian for harassment? Keep feedin' and fixin'!

[CDLver]

Absolutely OUTRAGEOUS!

How dare they harass a tax-paying citizen of their community for taking up the heart-wrenching task of TNR and feeding the stray cats that the city of Beverly Hills has neglected to do!

OUTRAGEOUS!

[jeanerette]

Beverly Hills, get your act together! You are an embarrassment to greater L.A.! Effective immediately, I am boycotting you because of your incredible lack of compassion. I live just a few miles from you, Beverly Hills, and I will not shop, dine or otherwise patronize you until this case is decided in favor of Ms. Varjian.

[NikitaTheHusky]

I'm sorry but i was unable to finish watching this video due to the fact only one side of the headphones were working in this video (Right).

[crittercrusades]

Only one audio track was laid down so you cannot watch on cell phones- correcting soon. Please watch on computer until then. Thanks.

[NikitaTheHusky]

I am watching off my PC at the moment.

[cmetropole]

We must all show up to Beverly HIlls City Council on Tuesday night, July 7, 2009. We can't let the kitten killers win.

[stargrlskater]

I need a ride to and back from North Hills!! Sepulveda and Plummer. Anyone?? someone??? hope it doesn't interfere with MJ memorial!

[shannajk]

Katherine Varjian is a hero. If I still lived in L.A., I would stand in front of her house with a sign saying as such, and would defend her every move against her tormenters. Thank you, Katherine! I think this would be my defining moment, maybe it's yours too. Be strong!

[stargrlskater]

"tormentors" what a perfect term! harrasement pretty right on term too.

[binkelsteinlouie]

I am from B.H. and I'm shocked that this law exists, because some CREEPY, NO HEART people don't want animals to be fed. Imagine what it's like for a poor animal to starve to death. DISGUSTING that this law exists. Come on B.H. HAVE A HEART!!

[oldarizona]

Thanks for sharing this video

[crittercrusades]

Please show up on Tuesday, July 7th at 7:00 p.m. Council Chambers, second floor, City Hall, 455 N. Rexford Drive in Beverly Hills. We need Beverly Hills residents to comment and state NO to new language preventing feeding of ferals. Please rate this video, make viral and let others across the country know THEIR city could be next....laws are already horrendous and archaic as it is for animals.

[luvmycairns]

You go Kathryn!! Beverly Hills citizens are a bunch of useless creatures, let's not feed them and see how they like it!

[stargrlskater]

shh! but YES, (wink wink)

[justiceandcompassion]

So Beverly Hills wants to make it illegal to feed "non owned" animals? That's ridiculous. Now no one will be able to feed humming birds either then I guess huh? This is unbelievable that they are using tax payers money to prosecute someone doing a good deed! Aren't there more important things to be doing with our tax dollars! This is an absolute outrage!

[crwcatz]

Visit the website "Alley Cat Allies" for more information.....

[mimerifle]

Thank you for this important story!

[ytakahara1]

stop wasting our tax dollars for this nonsense!

[ytakahara1]

Thats the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. They still need to live! She did nothing wrong!

[sprinklemist1]

Katherine Varjian is a hero. And she is darn lucky to have such a wonderful daughter to help her! Power to the People! And kitties!

[Bethsheeba7]

HOW BLOODY DISGUSTING IS THIS? Why am I not surprised at America anymore.

[TenHouseCats]

while I know there's lots of research and info on TNR and facts to support maintaining feral colonies, but could someone perhaps post some links here so that everyone could have access to them?

[melissam6262]

You guys did a great job with this video in conveying how ludicrous the whole thing is. Human beings simply talking about kindness and compassion, as well as educating the public. Thank you for this.

[amackey3]

The judge claimed she didn't read the papers as to stall the hearing. Now the city of Beverly Hills is holding an "emergency city council meeting" on July 7th to try and reinstate the code that would make what Katherine did a crime. The code was deleted at the beginning of the year, so as of the trial yesterday, she was being prosecuted for a law that no longer exists. By claiming to not have read the papers and pushing it back to 8/7/09, they can make it illegal before they try her. Shifty!

[007TruthSeeker]

Ah! If they try her on a statute that had expired (or deleted), then their case can be dismissed relatively easily.

If they "reinstate" the statute, then they might be able to prosecute her for subsequent acts, but not for what she had done before.

[SaysWh0]

the hearing was yesterday. anyone know the result?

[iamsoycatty]

PLEASE fax them a polite letter -- better than calling. Fax: (310) 275-8159.

Thanks.

Beverly Hills City Council, Rm. 400

455 N. Rexford Drive

Beverly Hills, CA 90210

Phone: (310) 285-1013

Fax: (310) 275-8159

[androclestipster]

that is totally ludicrious. If the court gets away with this it will send shock waves everywhere. People need to take care of animals. How dare they do this to this poor woman. Beverly Hills need to get a grip.

[Dan5819]

How could this happen in Beverly Hills? Stupid ignorant people live everywhere. So many rich people think nothing of dumping their cat outside. THEY are the criminals. Not people like this woman who use their own money to neuter and spay and reduce the population. She is the SOLUTION. The complainers in Beverly Hills are the PROBLEM.

[stargrlskater]

Yes, yes , thank you we all] just know that! Just last night I saw a sign outside Walmart in Porter Ranch with "Found Cat" a new dumping ground???

[Dan5819]

This is INSANE! She is a scapegoat for miserable ignorant people to blame everything on her because she DARES to do something to help fix the problem. She used her OWN MONEY to neuter and re-home many of them. The complainers should go to jail!!

[pentakle0522]

This is absolutely unbelievable, who the hell do these people think they are? Jail for feeding cats? Apart from anything teachers, cops and other workers are being laid off due to lack of money yet BH Council has money for this? Ridiculous!! The lack of compassion shown by this Council needs to be noted by us all and we need to vote these fools out of office ASAP.

[stargrlskater]

YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES !YES! YES YES!!!!!!! WOW! so right! they need to grow hearts! pity them fools, for they know what they do!!!! Vote 'em OUT!

[hollywoodjinky]

Please call the Bev Hills city Council today!

(310) 285-1013

Let them know this case must be dropped and this stupid law must be repealed immediately.

Please share this story and please make that call. If they get hundreds of calls, they will consider how unfair it is to prosecute people who T & R /feed stray animals. Direct action works, folks! "Just do it."

[binkelsteinlouie]

I never knew that it was against the law to feed feral cats in Beverly Hills, I'm from Beverly Hills and SHOCKED to say the least. It's o.k. for cats to multiply and starve, get hit by cars, what is wrong with Beverly Hills, CHANGE THE LAW NOW!!!! Catherine is a saint!

[stargrlskater]

something I just said last week to one of my harrassers!! thank you!!!!!

[abcmole]

I agree with your sentiments.

I'm happy to say the code does not exist, 5-2-104, subdivision B and C was deleted some time ago.

But... I wonder how is it not harassment or a crime for the city to make threats of prison and fines against a citizen for a non-existent code violation? And why all those doing so are allowed to remain in the public trust? Were are the protections for Ms. Varjian against rogue government?

[animalliberation0961]

This woman is an angel. May god bless her and others like her.

[animalliberation0961]

Can you get us a telephone number?

Thanks, I'd be happy to call the prosecutor's/mayor's office (?).

[CanadianBeaver]

PEACE and LOVE!