INDIANAPOLIS – A Facebook celebrity with four paws crossed county lines and got in trouble with the law recently.
Amanda Cancilla, the owner of an orange feline named Pirate Cat, wants laws changed as her pet was picked up by police in Hamilton County.
“He doesn’t like to be inside. He did it at first... and then he would slowly go out more and more,” said Cancilla. “He's just an outdoor cat. He likes people. He likes catching mice. All that stuff that cats do.”
She said Pirate Cat earned his name after he was found frequently resting on the shoulders of her boyfriend.
For three years, Pirate Cat could be found wandering the Monon Trail near 96th Street, but he would always return home. While out and about he found friends who would take photos with him.
His popularity led to Cancilla creating a Facebook page for her furry friend.
“People loved him,” she said. “They started adding pictures to his page and doing selfies with him... and we had so many problems with him being picked up.”
Pirate Cat was eventually picked up by Indiana State Police as laws in Marion and Hamilton County differ when it comes to wandering animals.
Pirate Cat not only has a great deal of online fans, but an attorney who’s pushing Carmel to change their Feral Cat Law.
“Pirate Cat can roam anywhere in Marion County, and he would be fine... but just over the last few months when the City of Carmel changed their ordinance, Pirate Cat has a problem,” said Mario Massillamany, Pirate Cat’s attorney.
Despite the law, Carmel officials said the recently passed ordinance allows cats to roam as long as they’ve been vaccinated, spayed or neutered and ear tipped – all requirements Pirate Cat meets.
Officials said Pirate Cat should be free to roam anywhere in Indy or Carmel.
Indiana State Police said Pirate Cat was found in a restroom along the Monon Trail, and instead of calling animal control, the trooper called his owners.
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