Iowa: Roger Rasmussen thinks he's special and shouldn't have to vaccinate and license his pets like everyone else in his town

See end of article for the breakdown in what Rasmussen is complaining about. Him being required to shell out four cents per day per cat is what he is complaining about having to pay. I'm serious.

IOWA -- Roger Rasmussen’s two cats were perched on window sills inside his home last week, quietly “sunning themselves,” he said.

Apparently, the cats, named Jetney and Brownie, were a little too quiet.

A passer-by saw the cats and thought one of them was dead. That started a set of circumstances that resulted in what Rasmussen believes is his rights being “trampled on” by city employees.

The passer-by, apparently thinking the cats were being abused, contacted the city. Animal Control Officer Pat Gansen went to the house at 603 N. Massachusetts Ave. to investigate.

Rasmussen, a Marine Corps veteran who makes his living as a handyman, was not at home at the time and heard all about it from a neighbor.

But soon after, he also heard about it from the city, in the form of a notice informing him he needed to provide proof of registration and vaccinations or be cited for violations of city code.

He said he thinks the city went way beyond its scope and invaded his privacy. He does not know who complained but said whoever it was had to be close to his house, on his property, to be able to see the cats in the window.

“The cats were not wandering around. They were inside my home,” said Rasmussen. “I don’t like the idea of Pat Gansen looking in my windows. That’s a polite way of saying it.

“Apparently cats are supposed to be registered. I didn’t know that. That’s just a profit-maker for the city. That’s all that is,” he said.

“Those cats were on private property. The city came on private property to look in my windows. That should never have happened. Where are my rights in all of this? Does the city have no boundaries in what they can do?”

He said the city gave him a deadline to show proof of registration and vaccinations.

“The way I see it, I have two choices — roll over and let the city have their way with me or give up my cats.”

Neighborhood Services Supervisor Pat Otto said Gansen was dispatched to Rasmussen’s home for a welfare check on a cat that was feared dead by the caller.

She said Gansen went to the home and saw two cats in windows on either side of the door. The cats reacted to seeing her and she knew both were all right, said Otto.

“Whenever animal control makes contact with a citizen, we check to see if the cats or dogs are up to date on their rabies vaccination and city license,” said Otto.

When Gansen checked the database, she discovered the vaccination data and license were not up to date.

So she went back to his home and left a tag on the door, informing Rasmussen he needed to show proof of recent vaccination and license.

“Those are required by ordinance and the ordinance does not distinguish between indoor and outdoor animals,” said Otto.

She said the cat registration ordinance has been on the books for at least 25 years. Persons cited for not having up-to-date vaccinations and license could face a fine of $50 to $65 plus court costs.

“I can’t say this strongly enough,” said Otto. “We would not take his cats.”

She said confirmed cases of rabies have been more prevalent in cats than in dogs in recent years.

“Since bats are the most common carriers, you can see how even inside cats could be infected,” she said.

“Since rabies can be fatal, it is always at the forefront of health concerns.”

On the Globe Gazette's page, there are a lot of comments by readers including someone I'm presuming is Rasmussen, who complains:

r2renewal Jul 7, 2016 8:12pm
Thanks John for your reporting of my story.
I can see I really have no other choice but to abandon my pet companions thanks to not only our Mayor and City Council but also animal control officer Gansen, Neighborhood Services & Transit Manager Otto, Development Services Department Director Van Steenhuyse, City Administrator/City Clerk Trout, all of whom have chosen to ignore a truth that the public will never know.

r2renewal Jul 7, 2016 8:51pm
•The average cost for cat vaccinations ranges from $45 to $85 and up in the first year, and from $10 to $35 and up per year afterward.
That figures out to be approx. $100.00 per pet, and I am well in my 50's and never have I vaccinated or registered any of my pets. I rest my case - arbitrary and autocratic dogma, even if they have told you otherwise. How else can I explain it?

r2renewal Jul 8, 2016 9:54am
Biff, also, have you read any laws being created? Too many laws are being created without respect for rights of citizens... without limits and boundaries. We as common citizens uphold and respect others' rights, should that not be required by people of authority as well?

Clearly, he is trying to make a stand and say that he is refusing to vaccinate his cats against rabies or to purchase city licenses for them because of his hatred of big government which he alleges is trying to bleed people dry. Um, the licenses typically pay for Animal Control services and/or the local shelter. The rabies vaccinations are required by the STATE because RABIES IS FATAL. 

He complains that it will cost him $100/year per cat to comply with the law. Lie. You can get your cats vaccinated against rabies for $10 each. And if you have your cats sterilized, the license is usually a lot cheaper than an unsterilized pet. 

A check of Mason, Iowa's laws confirm this: "Mason City Code requires all dogs and cats over 6 months old to be licensed by their owners and have rabies vaccinations". They do not require tons of different vaccinations for pets - they only require rabies vaccinations which is the norm for every single state in America. Also, "License fee shall be $50.00 per year for each animal that has not be altered and $10.00 per year for each neutered or spayed animal."

Dogs and cats are first vaccinated for rabies between 4 and 6 months of age. They need a booster one year from that date. They are then vaccinated every three years, although some states still require annual rabies vaccinations for dogs and/or cats. 

So, if he were to simply comply with the laws he would eventually be looking at $13.33/year for each cat. That works out to FOUR CENTS PER DAY per cat. 

If he thinks he's going to get a bunch of people supporting his ridiculous reasons as to why he won't comply with the law, he's barking up the wrong tree. 

(Globe Gazette - July 8, 2016)