Link: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1389348/posts

This came up on a local news website a few days ago. It seems that Arlington TX has a civic ordinance which forbids pets (including dogs and cats) to roam (not clear if this is day, night or both) without a leash. A local resident who clearly does not like cats very much is trapping them on his property and releasing them into the countryside.
As you see from the above link, a lot of folks appear to think that this is a Jolly Good Idea, or are at the least very sympathetic to the guy's actions.
Leaving aside the wisdom of what this guy is doing (and I happen to believe that he is behaving like an antisocial jerk), we need to consider the wisdom of this civic ordinance to begin with.
Let me try some elementary tuition for the law-makers of Arlington:

1. Dogs are not cats, and vice versa. Both species may have 4 legs and various different types of attractive fur coverings, but what works for one species does not necessarily work for another (hint: it's not just about cats not liking to play "Fetch")
2. Cats (even good ole' Felis Domesticus) are nocturnal, territorial hunting animals. They are NOT full-time fashion accessories whose sole purpose in life is to look cute on the sofa or next to the front entrance. They are happiest when left to look after themselves, roam in a small area and defend their territory (hint: think of how many times in your life you have seen a cat on a leash...)
3. Any civic ordinance that does not take (1) and (2) into account is dumb to the point of being brain-damaged.

What is happening in Arlington right now is a classic example of what happens when a city enacts a well-intentioned but excruciatingly dumb piece of legislation. Sooner or later, some evangelist of legislation enforcement will decide to become a one-man vigilante operation, and when challenged, will take refuge behind the aforementioned idiotic ordinance.

Here is some advice for the City of Arlington:

1. Review this legislation immediately. In its current form it is dumber than dirt.
2. Write a letter to the cat-trapper, praising him for his public-spiritedness, but suggesting that he might like to consider an alternative course of action that does not result in him appearing on a local neighborhood hate list. Emphasise to him that being legally in the right and being smart are not always the same thing.

Here is some advice for a wider readership:

3. If you want to keep a cat, don't lock the animal up 7x24. That is not how cats like to live their lives (hint: In human society, the only people we do that to are hardened criminals and the truly insane). Since I came to the USA I have met many dysfunctionl house cats, where they are locked up 7x24, and they are clearly unhappy. Perpetually miaowing, fidgetty, clinging cats are not poperly adjusted animals.