Cats at Hemingway Museum Draw Tourists, and a Legal Battle

[phesina]

From today's New York Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/23/us...it_th_20121223

"The museum’s nine-year bid to keep the cats beyond the reach of the Department of Agriculture ended in failure this month. The United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit ruled that the agency has the power to regulate the cats under the Animal Welfare Act, which applies to zoo and traveling circus animals, because the museum uses them in advertisements, sells cat-related merchandise online and makes them available to paying tourists.

In other words, the cats are a living, breathing exhibit and require a federal license."

??????? !!!!!!

[mrspunkysmom]

From today's New York Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/23/us...it_th_20121223

"The museum’s nine-year bid to keep the cats beyond the reach of the Department of Agriculture ended in failure this month. The United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit ruled that the agency has the power to regulate the cats under the Animal Welfare Act, which applies to zoo and traveling circus animals, because the museum uses them in advertisements, sells cat-related merchandise online and makes them available to paying tourists.

In other words, the cats are a living, breathing exhibit and require a federal license."

??????? !!!!!!

Not good. I can see involvement if the cats were not cared for appropriately. But everything I have heard suggest otherwise. SIGH.

[catmandu]

Damn those nit oicking governments.
Do they not have other things that they could be doing

[phesina]

Yup, that's our tax dollars at work!

[emily_the_spoiled]

I have been there and saw the cats ... if only all cats were taken care of that well the world would be a better place!

[smokey the elder]

An impending economic catastrophe looming, and they're worried about the Hemingway cats? Really?!