Family gets final warning for not paying licensing fee for dead cat

stryker said on May 30, 2011 at 8:36 AM

My tiny little cat.. I have to license. My 2 large horses... NO LICENSE REQUIRED

spacedover said on May 30, 2011 at 8:00 AM

This could only happen in the state of Washington, taxes,revenue and more fines.

kss123 said on May 30, 2011 at 6:56 AM

HA! I didn't get a chance to respond till now, but it looks like others did. It happened to me pathless. They came and asked....directly tresspassing to try and find tax revenue. Oh, and BTW, out of all my immediate family, I'm the only one who lives in a licensing area (6 places nationally). Your "I didn't say licensing is mandatory everywhere, just that this is done across the country" implies it's done everywhere....if you really want to clarify.

whatsyurbeef said on May 30, 2011 at 6:44 AM

Never had that problem usually one call with first license renewal notice takes care of it, if one phone call did'nt take care of it they should have sent a written notice next and kept a record of it..

southside253 said on May 30, 2011 at 5:53 AM

Ridiculous you have to licence any pet. Just a way to get "revenue" for government to decide how to spend your money.

geezer said on May 29, 2011 at 11:01 PM

Search a house for a cat, really? the PD has nothing better to do.???? if I lived in Federal way I would be calling City hall on this one. and if they come to your door wanting to look for an animal insist on a search warrent, like to see them go to a judge and get a warrent on this one.

wmdkitty said on May 29, 2011 at 8:21 PM

That's ridiculous! First off, there's no reason to license cats. Secondly, it's just cruel to enforce licensing on a DEAD PET.

rjr618 said on May 29, 2011 at 6:46 PM

I'm very sorry for your loss. I know how it hurts but to have them rub it in like that. That's totally uncalled for. I'd call the local tv station or news paper or the station that does exposes. Sorry, but two can play that game and I bet they never do it again.

Ashiq said on May 29, 2011 at 6:17 PM

I am so glad that I live in New Hampshire. Our motto? "Live free or die."

slappywag said on May 29, 2011 at 4:32 PM

Why is it that more cities don't have a permanent tag? My city has a permanent tag, and you don't have to pay anything for pets at all. When your pet is 6 months old, they let you get the permanent tag. The only time you have to pay anything after that is if you lose it and have to replace it.

mfmarion47756675 said on May 29, 2011 at 4:25 PM

Gosh. I hope the realize that this will go on their 'permanent record.' Actually this is sad. Losing a pet is really hard.

tranzor said on May 29, 2011 at 2:06 PM

They do still go door to door looking for unlicensed pets. Last year, there was a knock on my door and they left a notice that said they saw a pet in my window that the city didn't have record of, and I needed to either pay for a license or prove that the animal does not live at my house. The person who came by was a volunteer for the city police department. So they are still sending people around.

biggergovnow said on May 29, 2011 at 12:13 PM

pathlesstraveled: you are incorrect. About 4 or 5 years ago they were going door to door in King County. They got my parents. They were forced to stop eventually. I remember hearing on the radio that an autistic boy committed suicide because they kept harrassing him, though I never did see the story in print. But, regardless of whether or not that happened, they were going door to door looking for unlicensed pets.

pathlesstraveled said on May 29, 2011 at 11:31 AM

You can believe what you want to, but since the early 1990s, I have lived in 2 small towns and 2 large metropolitan areas in different regions of the country, and they all require pet licensing. BTW, I didn't say licensing is mandatory everywhere, just that this is done across the country. Since I have lived in places across the country, I am uniquely qualified to know about this. I am fully aware that not all townshave the necessary resources. Microchips are absolutely better, but before they existed, we were required to keep the tag on their collar. And the reason for that was if a lost pet was found by anyone, they could contact animal services and they could contact you. I would like to see one actual example of the government coming to your house and check for animals, not just a bunch of vague anecdotal stories fueled by paranoia. Believe me that would make the news. The only time animals are checked on is if they are not being taken care of.

Conseula said on May 29, 2011 at 11:25 AM

Another incident of taxpayer's paying salaries for the INEPT!! I feel sorrry for the Eisenman's as I know the pain of losing a loved animal, family member actually. I still miss dog who died 7 year's ago. The Eiseman's need to call the Washington State Attorney General's Office and get the form to file a complaint against the Police Department for harrassment. In dispute cases, one should always send the letter Certified Mail Return Receipt Requested to the person whose name is on the letter or just the Federal Way PD.. That is proof that whomever can't dispute! I believe you can get the form via the internet.. I've had occasions to do same with other matters ,i.e. recently my Home Warranty refusing to pay for repair listed in Warranty.. Thanks to Attorney General's Office, I won my case as well as the other two.. taxpayer's money well spent and I applaud them FYI..Problem with a business do same..BBB only records the complaint for ratings..

klondiko said on May 29, 2011 at 10:49 AM

Drop off the dead cat at a local police precinct. Let them handle the paper work and dispose of it. Make sure they sign for it though!

AYS said on May 29, 2011 at 10:39 AM

I live in that horrible state of California - Redding, to be specific. We do NOT have to register or pay for a cat license. This state just may not have thought of it because everything else is taxed - so don't tell them!

awol50 said on May 29, 2011 at 8:17 AM

Of course the government taxes cats and dogs. After all, it's the government, right? That is what they do. Sit around all day scheming up ways to tax and fee us to death. We would be taxed for the air we breath if the government could get away with it. They could charge a one time fee of $10 per pet to make a collar with tag with address and phone to call in case the animal is lost. But then again, that would not make money, right?

kss123 said on May 29, 2011 at 7:25 AM

path, you're a bit incorrect. Not every city or town has pet licensing....usually only larger metro areas. Also, the city doesn't care that much about licensing for lost animals, that's why microchips are so much better. Government doesn't care, they only want the extra money....otherwise they wouldn't send out people from door to door and check for animals...which does happen. It's revenue generating. If all that revenue went for animal programs fine, but it's usually just put into the general fund. As for all the political party ranting by anyone....if you want to call any one party out, you're the idiot.

rocketscience said on May 28, 2011 at 10:46 PM

Must be a slow news day ... beats the other option I guess.

clear2copy said on May 28, 2011 at 9:29 PM

ugh.. you know what I mean o_0

clear2copy said on May 28, 2011 at 9:29 PM

Magdalena , what did your letter say about the police searching your residence being searched?

Magdalena said on May 28, 2011 at 8:14 PM

I recieved a "Final Notice" from the Federal Way Police department as well, and I had already paid the licence fee for our 1 cat 3 months ago. Unless they are sending it for our other companion that we had to put down over a year ago. In either case, they will find evidence of a cat, because we have one, and he has been paid off.

biggergovnow said on May 28, 2011 at 7:27 PM

For zipperdoodle: How and when did this fall under police jurisdiction? (Sarcasm on) Oh, wait. I just noticed it is in Federal Way and I know that there isn't any crime there. So it makes sense, gotta have the police do something...(Sarcasm off) And no, I don't think we need a bigger government now, just the opposite.

emptynestr said on May 28, 2011 at 6:50 PM

Sick government out of control. Buracuracy at it's best.

carolynheminger4 said on May 28, 2011 at 6:43 PM

I called King County Animal control when they sent me a late notice for my cat. They said the license had expired. I told them "so had the cat." The lady at Animal Control was very nice and I never heard another word.

skok_cush said on May 28, 2011 at 6:34 PM

Gotta Luv Gov't & their Rackets.

pnwfemale said on May 28, 2011 at 6:24 PM

It's probably just a computer glitch. Or, possibly a clerical error on the part of the data entry operator. I hope Mr. Eisenman gets this resolved soon.

zipperdoodle said on May 28, 2011 at 5:39 PM

my friend is going through the same thing. She's trying to renew her cat licence, but they have the cat listed as dead, and her dead dog listed as living. It's an uber-headache. The city took over for animal services last year....to whoever said the federal way has no crime, obviously they don't live here! I wish it had no crime... we call it federal-hood for a reason! ;) Obviously they probably have like one over worked person doing all the animal control stuff... they probably don't care the status of your animal, they just want your money.

realitychk said on May 28, 2011 at 5:30 PM

The scary thing about the whole thing is that people somehow seem to find that a pet tax (licensing fee) is acceptable. I pay taxes to get the pet, to vet the pet, to feed the pet and then they want to assign an additional annual tax on the pet? I'm ready for smaller government now. How many taxes do we have to pay to feed these leeches? And then the gestapo wants to search the house for signs of a pet? I cannot believe that people find this acceptable behavior by the government or the government serpants

biggergovnow said on May 28, 2011 at 5:27 PM

How and when did this fall under police jurisdiction? Oh, wait. I just noticed it is in Federal Way and I know that there isn't any crime there. So it makes sense, gotta have the police do something...

rnl52 said on May 28, 2011 at 4:52 PM

Search the home for evidence of a cat? Get your camcorder out and call a lawyer.

chelandan said on May 28, 2011 at 4:42 PM

First, it's too bad about Lucy. I love cats too, and know how painful it is to lose one: My condolences, Mr. Eisenman. Second, if the FWPD searched Mr. Eisenman's premises because of a delinquent pet license, that would be a violation of his Fourth Amendment rights. I'd want to know the name of any judge who would issue such a warrant. It would make me want to hiss.

paris said on May 28, 2011 at 4:02 PM

I think everyone needs a mental health break lately. holy cat dander.

freedomfrank said on May 28, 2011 at 3:54 PM

"The letter saying his home could be searched and if evidence of a pet is found he would face a $100 fine." Waaaaay too far,,,,, when is this garbage going to stop?

clear2copy said on May 28, 2011 at 3:53 PM

"The letter saying his home could be searched and if evidence of a pet is found he would face a $100 fine." ...wait.. wha? Did the reporter see this letter, or just take the word of the dead pet owner.. That's pretty extreme

javajoe said on May 28, 2011 at 3:30 PM

They could give a sh#t about the cat, they want the money. It's government run amuck.........