The Fayette city council last week placed a moratorium on trapping cats after multiple complaints were made about a man on Linn Street capturing the animals and dumping them elsewhere in the county.

The moratorium comes with a $250 fine and will remain in effect until the city’s current ordinance can be changed to include animal trapping.

The man in question, Allen Frederick Houston, aged 60, is already facing one charge of Animal Neglect Or Abandonment, a Class C misdemeanor, after he was found dumping a cat near the intersection of Highways 240 and 40.

Houston apparently admitted to trapping and dumping cats from his neighborhood, according to a probable cause statement filed by the Howard County Sheriff’s Department.

“Houston stated that he uses a live trap to capture the cats and transports them to the intersection of Highway 40 and Highway 240, where he releases them. Houston did not indicate that he had ownership of the cats, permission to relocate them, or that he made provisions to ensure adequate care, food, water, shelter, or supervision upon release,” the statement read.

Houston’s initial court appearance is scheduled for Tuesday, April 21.

Several concerned citizens addressed the matter before the council at its most recent meeting held on Tuesday, March 10. Former Fayette alderwoman Bekki Galloway requested the city adopt an ordinance to allow only licensed organizations, such as Pet Adoption and Welfare Service (P.A.W.S.) in Fayette, to be allowed to trap cats. She provided sample language for such an ordinance.

“We need to clear that up so that our officers can prevent illegal trapping and so we don't have people trapping just to get rid of cats or throw them out into the country somewhere,” she said.

P.A.W.S. has for more than two decades provided a trap, neuter, release program.

“The purpose of such an ordinance would be to ensure the humane treatment of cats within the City of Fayette, Mo., to prevent unnecessary harm to owned or community cats, and to provide clear procedures for trapping and holding cats, and to ensure that any trapping activity occurs under the supervision of a licensed animal rescue organization and prioritizes animal welfare and owner reunification,” Galloway said.

One of those at last week’s meeting was Kelly Beeler. She is now facing a lawsuit from Houston in small claims court, in which Houston claims emotional damages worth $4,000 after she called the police on him for trapping the cats.

Area resident Mike Battles told the council that if he sees a cat in a trap, he will free the animal. “I'm not going to call the police. I'm not going to call you. I'm going to take care of the situation,” he said. “I’m asking for your mercy.”

A candidate challenging incumbent Mayor Greg Stidham apparently considered the council’s action a waste of time. Brian Cummiskey, a certified write-in candidate for the city’s top elected position in the April 7 election, grumbled the word “cats” while shaking his head several times before walking out of the meeting.

The Fayette Board of Aldermen meets regularly at 6 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesdays of every month in City Hall. Meetings are open, agendas are published in advance, and the public is invited.