My cat went AWOL on the evening of Sept. 11. On the morning of Sept. 22, I was informed that the cat was in the custody of Seattle Animal Control. It cost me $81 to bail out my cat including the license fee. On the 25th, I received via the mail a demand that I pay the city $125 for having an unlicensed cat. To add insult to injury, the cat again went AWOL on the afternoon of the 22nd shortly after I got him home.

I must make a few suggestions to West Seattle residents:

- If you find a stray animal do not call Seattle Animal Control. There are other alternatives that will not lead to further legal entanglements on the part of the owner of the animal.

- Do not either volunteer to assist Seattle Animal Control or make any contributions thereto.

- If you choose to bail out your pet from Seattle Animal Control only give the proverbial "name, rank and serial number." Any other information will be used to your detriment and no warning to that effect will be given.

We need not submit to the extortionate behavior of the present City "government".

Jack Zektzer

West Seattle