Irate man wields bat to liberate his lost cat

[November 20, 2008]  DALLAS (AP) -- Police are looking for an irate pet lover so intent on liberating his lost cat that he wielded a bat to fend off animal shelter employees. Dallas Animal Shelter manager Kent Robertson said the man found his missing gray and blue short-haired cat at the shelter, where it had been brought by someone who thought it was a stray.

He blew his stack when told he had to pay a $132 fee to take his cat.

Police say the man returned Monday, loaded his cat into a carrier without paying the fee, and threatened the staff with the baseball bat. No one was injured.

Most people thank shelter workers. Says Robertson: "This was pretty extreme."

The man could be charged with aggravated robbery and aggravated assault.

Police Senior Cpl. Kevin Janse says police have a clue -- the man signed the shelter guest book before fleeing.

[Associated Press]

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