Charges Against Meadowlands Cat Feeder Set To Be Dismissed In Agreement
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A northern New Jersey man cited for his daily routine of feeding homeless cats near the Meadowlands Sports Complex is set to have his charges dismissed.
The Record newspaper reports that Michael Marra, 59, appeared in East Rutherford Municipal Court Monday on summonses for violating an ordinance that bars the feeding of wild or stray animals.
Defense attorney Anthony DiSalvo said his client has agreed to a plea agreement in which the charges will be dropped if he stays off the complex for six months.
The operator of Meadowlands Racetrack told him last week it's going to care for the colonies of feral cats that live on the land at the complex.
Kathleen O'Malley of the New York City Feral Cat Initiative said another priority is to get the cats spayed and neutered.
"Through a trap-neuter-return program," she told WCBS 880's Sean Adams. "The friends of the county animal shelter are working on getting all of the cats spayed and neutered."
Marra, a former firefighter at the Meadowlands Racetrack, has been caring for the cats for roughly a decade. He said he's happy the fate of the cats is no longer in jeopardy.
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