it's your claim that the
defendant, who is a neighbor
of yours with some property
intervening, has a couple of
dogs that got out of his
property, got onto your
property.
And on your properly, you had
created some houses in the
backyard to house feral cats.
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: And am I correct
that at that time, you had
in excess of 14 cats?
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: How many did
you have?
>> Those are ones that I had
in cages.
I have about four cages.
>> Judge Judy: Cages that keep
what?
>> That are houses for the
kitty cats.
>> Judge Judy: Can the cats
get out?
>> No. It's outside.
They have houses in there,
cat trees, beds.
But they're -- it's built
outside.
>> Judge Judy: But most of those
cats that are outside
are feral cats.
>> Not after I have 'em for
awhile, and I get them either
neutered or spade.
>> Judge Judy: So, what you do
is, when they come in, because
you feed them, are you able to
catch them yourself?
>> They're usually kittens.
>> Judge Judy: Okay, so, you
take them in as kittens, and you
have them spade or neutered?
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: Who does that
for you.
>> My vet.
>> Judge Judy: And you pay
for that?
>> I have actually gotten some
vouchers from
San Bernardino County.
They'll give you like $25,
because it's really trying to
help the cat population.
>> Judge Judy: I got it.
So, you get them as kittens.
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: From where?
>> My barn.
I have a barn.
People leave their cats.
They have babies, and usually,
the mama cats leave the babies
about six weeks.
>> Judge Judy: Okay.
So, tell me, how many cats do
you have in the yard at any
one time?
>> There was 18 before.
>> Judge Judy: It is your claim
that the defendant's dogs got
out of his property, came on
your property, and killed five
of the cats.
>> Three were mine, two were
feral cats out at the barn that,
I didn't know they were there.
>> Judge Judy: When you say
three were yours, three were
cats that had been feral cats,
but that you had had spade or
neutered, and they were in this
enclosure?
>> Judge Judy: Okay. And what
kind of dogs did you have, sir?
>> Uh, rottweiler and
two pit bulls.
>> Judge Judy: Do you still
have them?
>> No.
>> Judge Judy: When did you
get rid of them?
>> I got rid of 'em the day that
Animal Control came over --
>> Judge Judy: Animal Control
came over, because of the
incident with the cats?
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: Okay, on what
date was that?
>> Uh, it was 4/28/16.
>> Judge Judy: Can you tell me
why we're here, two years later?
>> Well, for one reason, I could
not get a report from
Animal Control.
This happened in April.
I got the report in November.
>> Judge Judy: In November.
Okay.
So, in November is still
two years ago.
Where have you been for
two years?
>> Well, I had to send him
a demand letter, and then
I work --
>> Judge Judy: A demand letter
for what?
>> You have to send a demand
letter to them before you can
file small claims.
>> Judge Judy: Okay, I'd like to
see first, the report, and then
the demand letter.
>> From the Animal Control?
>> Judge Judy: First, the report
from Animal Control, that you
were waiting for, and then
a copy of the demand letter.
>> This is a copy, 'cause he
didn't pick it up when
I mailed it.
>> Judge Judy: So, you
relinquished all your dogs
to Animal Control.
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: Okay.
How long had you had them?
>> I had 'em for years.
I had them ever since they were
puppies.
>> Judge Judy: You have pictures
of the shed?
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: I'd like to take
a look at 'em.
Is this the first time your dogs
got off your property,
Mr. Walker?
>> They had, um, been off the
property before, uh, but not to
my knowledge.
I've never seen my dogs leave
the property.
I -- Animal Control had given
my dad a fine years ago
for them getting out,
but I never, uh, seen 'em
personally get out of the yard.
Every time I'm -- was in my
yard, my dogs were always home.
So, I never actually physically
saw my dogs leave.
>> Judge Judy: These are
powerful dogs.
>> [ Laughs ]
>> Judge Judy: Did you ever try,
Mr. Walker, to discuss with
the plaintiff the damages she is
claiming is a result of the
dogs?
>> This is the first time
I heard about it, until now.
Um, I never received a letter or
anything.
I never received anything
about this.
>> Judge Judy: Well, you spoke
to people immediately after
the incident.
Did they not speak to you, or
did they speak to your father?
>> They spoke to me about the
incident with the -- with
the dogs.
>> Judge Judy: Immediately
thereafter in 2016.
I see they interviewed you.