A 79-year-old woman fed stray cats because she was lonely. Now, she faces jail time
A 79-year-old woman received a 10-day jail sentence for refusing to stop feeding stray cats in her suburban Cleveland neighborhood. After the sentence was widely criticized, a judge is willing to take a second look at her case.
FOX 8 Cleveland reported that Garfield Heights Municipal Court Judge Jennifer Weiler will hold a new hearing for Nancy Segula after the sentence was handed to her by a city magistrate last week.
Segula acknowledges repeatedly violating a city ordinance making it illegal for people to feed dogs and cats that aren't their own. She was sentenced to jail after her fourth appearance in court for the violations.
An animal warden attempted to work with Segula to clear the area of cats and make her aware of the neighbors’ concerns, but she continued to feed the cats, according to a news release issued by the City of Garfield Heights.
Segula said she lost her husband and her own cats in 2017, and the stray cats became a source of comfort, according to local station WKYC-TV.
Oops! A police officer thought he was rescuing a kitten. It was a bobcat
However, Segula has been cited on numerous occasions dating to June 2015. Her latest hearing was in May, after she violated probation when she was convicted of failing to dispose of animal waste in 2017.
At the hearing last week, the magistrate found that Segula was still feeding stray cats, which she admitted, and sentenced her to 10 days for contempt of court, according to the city’s release.
“Our department and the City as a whole recognize that many are passionate about pets and animals in general. We are also aware that many do not feel the same way,” the statement said.
Feeding stray animals is a violation of a city ordinance.
Since Segula started feeding the cats, the animal warden has removed 22 cats from her house and turned them over to rescue organization Forever Friends, where they've received medical attention, been spayed or neutered, and placed for adoption.
“Our only intention in this case was to enforce the city ordinance and to alleviate a nuisance situation created by Mrs. Segula,” the city’s released concluded.
A new court date has not been set.
Contributing: Associated Press.
Follow Adrianna Rodriguez on Twitter: @AdriannaUSAT.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ohio woman, 79, sentenced to 10 days in jail for feeding stray cats
