Susie, a 10-year-old male cat is captured by 12-year-old Daylynn Pannette's camera phone before Monday.
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
Centralia City Council member and pastor of a downtown church Bill Bates says he’s guilty of “making wrong use of judgement” when he shot and killed a neighbor cat with a pellet gun earlier this week.
Bates, 60, said he was surprised the animal died as when he used the air-powered rifle on a possum in his yard, he had to shoot it three times to kill it.
He didn’t mean for the cat to die, Bates said, he was just tired of it dropping “deposits”, messing in his beauty bark and walking on his clean cars.
Bates said he saw it walk behind the arborvitae shrubs and fired into the arborvitae shrubs. Usually he’s 30 or 40 yards away, he said.
“If I’d have done it on purpose and wanted to kill the stupid thing, I wouldn’t have told anyone,” Bates said yesterday.
Bates came across as frustrated that the news of the incident and criticism of him had, in his words, gone viral on the Internet.
It happened on Monday on the 900 block of Ham Hill Road in Centralia and he confessed right away, Bates said.
“I went to the owners, I apologized, offered retribution,” he said. “I’ll be glad to buy them a cat. I’ll bring ’em an Easter lily if I have to.”
Dusty Pannette and her family are devastated, and shocked, following the knock on their door and the news their 12-pound “Susie” was dead.
“We didn’t even know it was bothering this guy,” Pannette said.
Pannette said the neighborhood is filled with cats and dogs and Susie – who is actually a male – for the past 10 years has been an indoor and outdoor cat, one who often prowled the open pasture behind their houses for mice.
“Everyone in the neighborhood knows this cat, he’s not a stray, he’s not aggressive,” Pannette said. “We all let our animals roam freely, we never thought twice about it.”
Pannette said she was stunned and confused when Bates – who she didn’t really know – announced what he’d done and told her he usually shoots at her cat’s feet but this time he “got” him.
“The words I’m sorry never came out of his mouth,” she said. He just said he felt bad and said he’d buy a new one, she said.
It has been additionally disturbing to her children, who felt an extra bit of security knowing a minister lived on their block, she said.
Centralia police declined to comment, acknowledging they took a report, but would not discuss details since nobody had been arrested.
Officer John Panco said yesterday the case was sent to the city’s attorney to determine if any charges would be filed.
Both Pannette and Bates say police described to them it’s not criminal to shoot a nuisance animal on your own property.
Pannette and her husband have spoken with a lawyer and are considering a lawsuit. She’s shared a flyer with her neighbors to warn them there’s “someone on the hill that doesn’t appreciate animals and will fire on them if they come in his yard.”
If it’s not against the law, it should be, Pannette said.
The black and white feline has been taken to a local veterinarian to be cremated.
Bates is serving his fourth year on the city council and is minister at Destiny Christian Center, an Assemblies of God church, on North Tower Avenue.
Bates said he is sorry, what he did was stupid and he loves animals.
The police officer can attest to how remorseful, apologetic and cooperative he was, Bates said.
He realizes he should have spoken to his neighbors about his concerns or, “I should have thrown a rock at it, not shoot it. I’ll never do that again.”
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter
So THANK YOU MR. BATES for keeping the world of threatened and endangered animals safer!!!
First of all, if you loved your pet, you would not let it FREE ROAM in a world full of immediate danger from predators.
If you loved animals at all, you would keep your “pet” inside your house where it can be protected. When your “pet” is not safely inside your house, it is in someone else’s yard killing native wildlife like endangered birds and insects.
Also, you may have your cat seen regularly by a vet, but it is still a carrier of zoonosis diseases that can infect and kill even humans in extreme cases.
Mr. Bates did what any responsible ANIMAL LOVER would do and he HUMANELY EUTHANIZED a filthy stray animal with a BB gun to keep it from polluting the environment with toxic waste and to keep it from killing endangered native wildlife.
If people want to bring abortion into this discussion are they aware that we not only pay for abortions here we pay for kids in this town to use abortion as a method of birth control!! Now that is sick no matter how you look at at abortion.
Mr. Bates is no different than anyone else in that we all are guilty of making bad choices at times in our lives and that we can live to regret…but that doesnt change the fact he broke the law. Mr. Bates had the choice to go first to the owners of the pet cat since he was aware of who they were and tell them of the problem and giving them at least a chance to try and correct the problem before taking the law into his own hands and killing someones pet without any regard to if maybe that pet was loved by someone and the killing of it would cause them undue pain. Just because Mr. Bates is a minister and serves on the city council doesn’t and shouldn’t make him above breaking the law and if anything makes it worst because he should of known better. Wouldn’t it made a lot more sense for him to of taken his medicine and paid his fine like anyone else would have had to do and then been done with it instead of hiding behind his title. That way he would of been able to hold his head up and keep the respect of the people by knowing he was man enough to stand up and take responsibility for his actions. Instead he chooses to make yet another bad choice which not only reflects on his character as a man but on the character of the kind of people we have as our representatives in our city council and the police officers that are suppose to enforce our laws. Thru their actions or lack of they are sending a very clear message that we our are city of two different sets of laws to go by and that maybe it is time for us to do some real house cleaning that starts at the top and to work its way down and replace it with people that don’t think its alright for them to break the laws without any repercussions for their actions and just saying the words I’m sorry changes everything. If that were true and all it takes there wouldn’t be a need for jails anymore would there.
Cat’s considered “pets”, if not on a leash, are in violation of the law. Letting your cat wander around is stupid. If you really loved your pet you would protect it from the dangers of being outside.
But you don’t love your pets. You treat them like you treat your children. You think that once they leave your sight, they are no longer your problem.
Think again.
If a cat should be kept in a house or not isn’t the point here! The point is was it illegal to shoot someones pet or not….It is beside the point if he admitted to it or not or is sorry. Did he break the law. .. yes he did break the law and he should be treated no different than anyone else. I mean say I rob a store and I admit to it but I’m sorry, or if I say I used poor judgement and won’t do it again. Would that change the fact that I broke the law by committing a robbery and should therefore not be charged. The law is the law right or is it different if your a minister and on the city council and they have a different set of laws to go by? What kind of example are city officials setting to the people that live here and pay their high salaries and full benefits. The people that hold positions on the city council are suppose to respect the law and to be law abiding citizens and no where does it say it gives you a free ticket to break the law or does it???
Let me share something with you. A neighbor’s cat has been pooping in our yard for years.
I’ve spent $ trying to repel it with chemicals from the pet store, natural methods (pepper, etc), a device to deter it using high pitch sound, all to no avail.
I have trapped it in a humane trap and taken it to the pound, where they scanned it and contacted the owners. The owners got to bail it out for free, as a “professional courtesy” since one owner works in pet healthcare (yeah, I know, right?).
I have spoken to the Police, as well as the cat’s owner. The owner acted like there was nothing they could do about it.
I have an idea that some think is crazy: How about the owners of cats keep them inside their house and deal with changing a litter box? It irritates me so much because the owners can refuse to deal with a litterbox, and then I am forced to deal with their cat’s poop!
I have children, and like to plant vegetables, but can’t even share that joy with my kids without doing all kinds of stuff to avoid eating cat poop!!
I am an animal lover. I grew up with cats that lives to be 18 & 19 years old (because they were inside the house their entire lives).
It seems simple; you want a cat, you clean up after it. You dont want to clean up cat poop; you don’t get a cat.
It doesn’t make sense to have a law that says animals can’t poop on the property of others, yet fail to enforce that law. it’s enough to drive people to desperate means!!!
To all those who are up in arms that this cat met an untimely death, I would just like to know: What would you suggest I do about my cat situation?
On March 3rd 2011 Centralia Police Officer Gary Byrnes pulled over David Low of Centralia. During the Traffic Stop Mr. Low recorded Gary Byrnes, Byrnes is caught stating that Low is under arrest for video taping him. Low called 911 and he was denied police services he asked the state patrol for help 11 differnt times. The 911 dispatch center failed anwser lows requst for Police Help… Low was taken from the car and Choked by police in handcuffs… Most of the Evidence has been recorded on a tape recorder…Help Stop Police Corruption.. Contact Dirtycopsmustregister.com We want your Dirty Cop Story… It’s time to Clean House
The Centralia Police are a Criminal Gang of Thugs. Gary Byrnes has been caught on Video stating that David Low was under arrrest for video taping him. Officer Mike Lowery has also been caught tampering with evidence. Yet these Oath takers are still employed as of Today. Help take down the Criminals at the Centralia Police Department. Contact the Dirty Cop Enforcer. Go to Dirtycopsmustregister.com and let us know about your Dirty Centralia Police story..Only the help of the public can dismantle this armed gang of Thugs… Don’t think it could happen herer in Centralia Think Again. Police Convictions are at an all time high. Officer Lowery seems to be the Focal Point for corruption in Centralia…. Cameras are rolling MR. Lowery and I’m gunning for your Job…. I put my Name on it…. David Low…He’s not Yellow like you are… Drop your Weapons and lets see how tough you are without your Job…….Dirtycopsmustregister.com is coming for you. Go ahead and try to raid me I will just add it to the list of your crimes…
Mr. Bates I am taking pleasure in making a movie about all the Centralia Corruption that I see in the city. My Movie will throw the City Council under the bus. Thanks for a platform to begain my Law suits… Dirtycopsmustregister.com and Gary Byrnes you can bet I’m going to win my law suit.
Well the last time I checked with law enforcement and the animal pond it is illegal to shot a cat. Anyone caught doing it or can be proved of doing it is to be prosecuted by law. The law per the animal shelter and the police is that you are to trap the animal and take it to the pond. Now it would have been just as easy to put some cat food in a trap then kill it. As a christian Bates should have known that you are not suppose to harm a critter of the lords. Now we will wait and see what reason the chief or sheriff will come up with for not prosecuting Mr. Bates for murdering the cat. I can tell you if I or you done it we would be in court in 30 days.
I don’t think anyone was implying that abortion equals shooting a kitty. But you seem like a devout dumb fuck so I can see how you would get a little confussed. I think the point us ignorant, babbling, bobbleheads where trying to make is, there are children being murdered but to some of you left wingers the death of a animal is much more important. We bobbleheads kinda think that may be whats wrong with society. Im doubtful you understand!
State subsidized abortion=shooting the neighborhood kitty? <-and this is what is wrong in society! Ignorant, babbeling, bobbleheads talkin out their ass! What this guy did was wrong, and he should face the same consequences that any othe peon member of society would face for breaking the law. He should also step down from his role on the city council. His judgement, is questionable at best, and that is unacceptable. As far as his ministry, millions flock to their church and listen to some serious weirdness all over the country. If he sheep approve of his behavior, and his message…..who cares?
I cant believe the stupidity of some people. To call into question Mr. Bates Christianity over the horrific murder of a house cat? Really?? I half to agree with hatinonsoccermoms, there are innocent children being murdered in our county and you dumb asses are worried about a cat?? Just keep your cats and dogs at home and nothing will ever happen to the lovable little fuzz balls! If I see a cat on the hood of any of my vehicles it will be assassinated promptly, you have been warned:)
Well said, Shawn, and thank you for saying it!
Wow, this is comical. I’ve killed fish, frogs, ants, grasshoppers, mice, birds, flys, a goldfish, rabbits, even my neighbors dog who kept killing my chickens. Oh yes I forgot, I’ve killed my kids chickens and ate them for dinner. Get off this dudes back, he asked for forgiveness, and apologized, who cares where he works, or what he does, he’s a bigger man in my eyes for admitting his mistake and asking for forgiveness. Our city has bigger and more important things to work on. Some of you need to take a vacation and go to Walmart or something.
“If God sees each sparrow that falls out of it’s nest, then I’m sure He has his eye on cats, too…………….AND the people who un-necessarily kill them!”
As someone who has tried to plant a garden around cat owners, how about not letting his cat wander around the neighborhood.
Keep your pets at home, and they won’t get into such trouble or run over by cars.
ButHeSaid- The answer to your question per RCW 16.04.025:
“If the owner or the person having in charge or possession such animals is unknown to the person sustaining the damage, the person retaining such animals shall, within twenty-four hours, notify the county sheriff”…
If God sees each sparrow that falls out of it’s nest, then I’m sure He has his eye on cats, too…………….AND the people who un-necessarily kill them!
Well… he said he had been shooting at the cat to scare it away… this time, the pellet hit the cat and killed it.
Did the cat have a phone number on it? If not, who would he call?
Looking at this situation from strictly a legal point of view, Mr. Bates is clearly in the WRONG!
According to RCW 16.04, Mr. Bates’ recourse for damage caused to his property by a trespassing animal is to “retain and keep in custody such offending animals until the owner or person having possession of such animals shall pay such damage and costs, or until good and sufficient security be given for the same.”
Nowhere in that chapter does the law allow for Mr. Bates to shoot the cat. As a matter of fact, RCW 9.08.070(1)(c) prohibits him from “Willfully or recklessly killing or injuring any pet animal.” In other words, shooting the cat is a CRIME, and is punishable by incarceration in jail for up to 364 days, a fine up to $5,000, and a mandatory fine of $500 per pet animal he kills or injures.
I think the bigger story here is will this City Councilman and local minister be held accountable for breaking the law?
Good point commoncents… How about this comment?
“Pannette said she was stunned and confused when Bates – who she didn’t really know – announced what he’d done and told her he usually shoots at her cat’s feet but this time he “got” him.”
It appears that shooting cats (and possums) happens regularly at this man’s house.
” “If I’d have done it on purpose and wanted to kill the stupid thing, I wouldn’t have told anyone,” Bates said….. ”
Was I the only one that saw this. I’m more worried about a member of the city council who wouldn’t have told the owner if he “wanted to kill the stupid thing”.
Great example, can’t wait for my kids to grow up like that.
Uhhhh . . . Vicki . . . the Ten Commandments apply to humans killing other humans. While I doubt that God would condone killing pets, I don’t think that’s what He meant when He said “Thou shalt not kill.” I’m just sayin’ . . .
While I think it’s horrid what this guy did, I was almost siding with him until he made the comment about buying the lily. How much more insensitive can a person be? He’s obviously a prick who can’t fathom the fact that you can’t just go out and buy a replacement for a beloved pet.
Also, I agree with Ollie. What the fuck does killing a cat have to do with abortion? Only some wacky pro-lifer would actually make that comparison AND use this opportunity to cram their views down everyone’s throats. For the record, I don’t necessarily believe abortion is right, but it’s not my decision to make for anybody else. On that note, to HATINONSOCCERMOMS: pets aren’t “useless” to the pet owner although, I know a lot of currently living human beings that should have been aborted, and this world would have been a much better place. I’d also like to point out that YOU too are “reading this garbage.”
Cats are domesticated animals and it is not responsible to allow them to roam free outdoors. Risks of outdoor life include exposure to infectious diseases (feline leukemia, feline immunodeficiency virus, and feline infectious peritonitis); injury or death occurring on busy roads; and attacks by predators which may result in abscesses or even worse – rabies.
Not only does keeping cats indoors protect their health and human health (re: waste), it also protects the lives of countless migratory songbirds that they would otherwise kill. In some areas, cats have severely reduced the populations of certain birds (approximately 30 species)…almost to the point of extinction.
If you love your cat, you will keep it inside at home!
Then you can enjoy it and prevent it from becoming a nuisance to anyone else.
~As an aside to hatinonsoccermoms: it is ridiculous to suggest that there is any parity between abortion and cats or any other news story. People can and do have many different ideas and opinions all at the same time that are not mutually exclusive. We can talk about any of them. Sorry if you don’t like it.
How many state subsidized abortions were performed in lewis county last month? Any idea? And your worried about a useless pet? Is the media and criminal system THIS hungry for a story? Is it about morality or justice? I say Neither. Commend this guy for ‘manning up.’ On the other side of the coin why reward a coward who throws the cat in the trash and covers up his crime. The cat was trespassing anyway. Twisted people love to see a good man go down sadly enough. The fact that this story is “news worthy” speaks volumes about the local media and people reading this garbage.
Bless the Beasts and the Children, Pastor Bill… Obey The Pug
Excellent conversation going on here.
Annette- thank you for the link to the county code… I never knew that a code would be this specific.
CatLover and Sunshinegirl – AMEN! It’s nice to know that there are responsible cat owners. However, for Sunshinegirl and me, I see our “hindsight” views as being akin to the former smoker – they always seem to be the most critical. lol. Nonetheless, I hope some cat owners can take away some valuable insight from our conversations. —- It’s not a hatred for cats, it’s the reality of what our cats put others through.
What a sick,sick man!!
Wow…I tried to just stay neutral but calling the dead cat “the stupid thing” and saying he would “send a lilly if I have to” kinda summed up his remorse for me. Seems more sorry that it went viral on the internet than anything at this point.
I don’t like the neighbors cat in our yard either, ours are kept inside so as not to upset the neighborhood with my love of animals. However, I would not shoot one, I would do like I have done…contact them and explain that I am frustrated at the situation. In every instance the neighbor has corrected the problem. These people should of been given this opportunity before shooting it.
Not lawsuit worthy…but disappointing. Bill Bates and his church has done a ton of good for this community, and I find this totally out of character for what I know of him. And before you ask…I do not go to his church, and I am only a aquaintance not a friend.
Sad situation…getting worse everytime he opens his mouth.
I agree with morning coffee. As a former cat owner, now I am about the only person in my apartment building without a cat. I have cleaned up the most disgusting mess’s in my flower boxs you can imagine! I have cleaned up copious amounts of blood and fur from them also. The owners say not my cat, even when I tell them it is. I have replaced numerous expensive begonias. The only repellent I ever bought that actually worked was cheyene pepper spread thickly, and big red lava rock spread about 4 inches thick.I have felt the frustration and the disgust of having to clean up continually. People should provide a toilet for their animals that is not my property, or else come clean up the gross mess’s I have had to clean up and I have never had an offer for that.
Cats roaming free are subject to the laws of the jungle. Sometimes they get run over by cars, sometimes they get eaten by dogs (or coyotes) , sometimes they get shot by neighbors who are tired of them pooping in the beauty bark. If you want to keep your cat from harm, don’t let it outside.
He immediately saw his error, immediately apologized, and offered to pay for damages/replacement. Doesn’t bring the cat back, but it’s not like he’s out there shooting for fun. He’s a minister – a man – not a superhuman or a god. He made a mistake, and owned up to it. No wonder no one wants to claim personal responsibility these days – he gets butchered for it!
And yes, I do have animals. And yes, they have been shot at for being out of my yard.
If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying down under its burden, you shall refrain from leaving him with it; you shall rescue it with him.
Exodus 23:5
The Lord is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made.
Psalm 145:9
This guys is an idiot and should be taken out of the pulpit and kicked off the council.
This man is supposed to be a Christian minister. Apparently he has forgotten the basis of Christianity; the Ten Comandments, one of which is “Thou Shall not Kill”. I don’t believe it states, “unless of course if some living thing is bothering you”. Of course those were written a long time ago, so perhaps they really don’t apply anymore, or perhaps they are merely outdated.
When will people realize animals are not disposable. They are part of someone’s family. The right thing would have been to complain to the owners, and definitely not offer to buy them another!
But really, how are his neighbors suppose to keep their cats on their own property – short of locking them in their homes. It seems so petty that a neighbor’s cat is on your property. Hopefully – we can all learn something from this.
Remember if you have to tell people you love animals, you probably don’t as much as you think.
Both parties are in the wrong but I think the shooting of the cat is more serious than cat poop in the beauty bark (there are ways to prevent that).
Lewis County code http://www.codepublishing.com/wa/lewiscounty/html/LewisCounty06/LewisCounty0605.html
6.05.020 Prohibited activities of animals.
It shall be unlawful and a public nuisance for owners or keepers of any animal to permit their animal to:
(3) Destroy or damage any plant or animal or any other property or thing of value or to open a closed garbage container or scatter the contents therefrom or to deposit excrement or other solid waste on the property of persons other than the owner of the animal.
6.05.040 Cruelty to animals.
It shall be unlawful for any person to:
(1) Recklessly kill, injure, torture, or torment any domestic animal.
I’ve been a cat owner and lover nearly my entire life, and we as cat owners DO NOT realize how annoying OUR cats can be to all of our neighbors.
You see, now that I am not a cat owner but most of my neighbors are…. it is quite clear how annoying it is. I guess since we have no cat to mark and claim our property as their own, our property is up for grabs to all the other neighboring cats.
I have learned just how annoying it is that our gardens are routinely used as cat boxes, our plants are ruined by continual spraying, car tires are continually sprayed and clean cars used as perching places.
I have used every product and trick published on the internet to prevent cats from using our yard. It’s impossible.
I’m not sure what the answer is because we obviously cannot contain cats to our yards. But I can now understand the frustrations of non-cat owners. I understand Mr. Bates’ anger and frustration, but unfortunately he did the wrong thing.
Cat Owner’s: you need to acknowledge to yourself just how annoying a cat can be to your neighbors — you probably don’t realize these frustrations because your cat is not doing things in your yard. And it is especially irritating to those people who spend significant time in their gardens and yards. It’s quite disgusting to have to deal with your animals’ upkeep.
Sincerely,
from a Cat Lover and nearly lifelong cat owner.
It’s just the plain truth.
it was inhumane of him to just shoot. Why not take the effort to go out and startle or take the effort to go to kaija’s and get materials to repel animals. SHAME ON YOU!!!!!
If I shoot an Elk or Deer in my field that’s eating my horses hay and tearing down my fence its illegal . But if a neighbors cats in my field i can shoot it and its legal,