Judge to Rule if 'Meowing' Is Harassment

[CyberGuy]

Judge to Rule if 'Meowing' Is Harassment

JEANNETTE, Pa. (AP) - Meow. A district judge has been asked to decide whether that word is a harmless taunt or grounds for misdemeanor harassment. Jeannette police charged a 14-year-old boy for ``meowing'' whenever he sees his neighbor, 78-year-old Alexandria Carasia.

The boy's family and Carasia do not get along. The boy's mother said the family got rid of their cat after Carasia complained to police that it used her flower garden as a litter box.

The boy testified Tuesday that he only meowed at the woman twice. Carasia testified, ``Every time he sees me, he meows.''

The boy's defense attorney, David Martin Jr., argued that the charge should be dismissed.

``This should never have been filed,'' Martin said. ``This is not something that police should be wasting their time with or wasting the court's time.''

Jeannette District Judge Joseph DeMarchis decided to wait 90 days before ruling. DeMarchis said his decision will be based on how the boy and his neighbor get along in the meantime.

[Nicodema]

First they ought to rule whether repeatedly keeping a barking dog tied outside at all hours to annoy the neighbors (instead of bringing it indoors to annoy its owners which ought to be done, as they are the ones who wanted the stupid thing in the first place) constitutes "harrassment". Once they've decided to ratify reality with a legal rubber stamp by acknowledging that in fact it does, they'll be in a better position to judge an harmless affair such as this.

Personally I don't see why this woman should be bothered by it. If the family did not WANT the cat enough to solve the problem by obtaining a litter box and keeping it indoors, they have only themselves to blame that they chose to give it away.

<img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/2140443d1b809c10e.jpg" alt="" />

[cricket]

Quite possibly it was the boy who wanted the cat; and not necessarily the whole family.

(I have a couple of lizards I'd like to give away. If only my neighbors would be offended by their actions!!)

Grasshopper

[Nicodema]

Then in that case, the family is deceiving the boy, by either causing or at least allowing him to think the reason for the cat's departure is solely attributable to the complaint of the neighbor.