By Bob Krauss
Advertiser Columnist

The Readers Court is now in session and you are a judge. Our case today deals with a difference in perception of how humans should treat cats and vice versa.

Remember that real people are involved. This issue matters to them or it wouldn't have gotten into the newspaper. Both sides have given testimony to support a point of view. Is there a solution to this disagreement? You be the judge.

Lani Wagner came forward about a week ago with the complaint that her former landlord is starving seven stray cats living under his warehouse in 'Aiea.

She knows this because she leased office space from Howard Chong of the Healani Land Co. for six years before he consolidated a cluster of small offices into one large one and she had to move out.

Chong states that he is not starving the cats, merely letting them forage for themselves as they did for a long time before Wagner began feeding them. He said this created a problem.

"When she started feeding the cats, we had a population explosion," he said. "The cat population went up to 15 cats. They were urinating in public spaces."

Wagner contends that the cat population went up to only 12. They increased because Chong didn't have a big Siamese and its male friend fixed as he should have done in the first place, she said.

"There would be a lot more cats if I had not taken it upon myself to catch each one and have it fixed," she said. "For six years I have fed, watered, neutered or spayed each one, took them to the vets and treated them for fleas. I relocated some, some died and I took some home."

Wagner says that several tenants agreed to feed the cats after she moved out but that Chong threatened them with eviction.

Not so, said Chong. "I asked the tenants if they would stop feeding the cats as a courtesy to the other tenants," he explained. "Without feeding, they could remain as they were before. Actually, they do a service in catching small rodents."

To Wagner, this is cruel and inhumane behavior. "It's been especially hot and dry and because of the despicable attitude toward those precious animals, they are now left without any nourishment or water." She said she believes that as a big game hunter, Chong doesn't like animals.

Chong answered that he's proud of his trophies from Alaska, Africa and the Rocky Mountains. But the trophies are not evidence that he doesn't like animals. The reason he doesn't own a dog is that his wife won't let him.

Wagner believes that Chong has shot some of the cats. He said this is untrue. "We've trapped some and took them to the Humane Society," he said.

A letter to Chong from Wagner on Aug. 30, pleading with him to let her feed the cats, has not changed his mind. She said they are afraid to come out of their hole and will die of thirst. Her number is 486-8886. His is 486-4196.

Reach Bob Krauss at 525-8073.