Ordered to remove 26 felines

MOSES LAKE - The City of Moses Lake is fining a couple $250 per day for violating an ordinance limiting the number of pets per residence to three.

Brian and Yvonne Healy were ordered to remove 26 of their 29 cats from their South Jefferson Avenue home.

Hearing Examiner Bruce Pinkerton issued the order to remove the cats May 8.

The Healys were informed of the ordinance violation last year and the city ordered them to remove the extra cats. The city granted the Healys an extension through mid-January to find homes for the animals.

The Healys kept all the cats and appealed the city's order to the hearing examiner where their appeal was denied again.

Pinkerton stated the Healys were violating the ordinance and ordered them to remove the cats immediately.

They had until May 10 to remove 26 of the cats and did not, City Attorney Jim Whitaker said. The $250 fine per day began May 11.

According to city documents, the Healys requested an extension to keep the cats until Aug. 31. Pinkerton denied the request stating the Healys will not get special treatment with regard to the ordinance.

According to city documents, the Healys advised they plan to move out of the city limits to keep all 29 cats.

The fines will continue to accrue as long as they keep all of the animals at their home in the city. The Healys' attorney has until May 29 to file an appeal to superior court, Whitaker said.

The Healys were unavailable for comment.