CAROL Long holds her remaining cat, Toby. Her other cat, also a Maine coon, is missing after the animal was dumped in Langley last year by Long’s neighbour in Pemberton Heights. Hare rut Anna Marie D'Angelo News: Reporter dangclo@nsnews.com PEOPLE in Langley - are still looking for Caroli Long’s cat. Long's Maine _ coon, Riley, went missing from its Nerth Vancouver home abour 14 years ago. Long found out that her neighbour had taken the cat and abandoned it in a rural area near Fort Langley. Long and her husband, Mike Girdler, appeaicd to a newspaper in Langiey.to help find their beloved pet. They received dozens of calls. ‘The calls continue to come. The latest call occurred - last weekend when Langley -resident Pamela Ange phoned the News after find- ing a stray Maine Coon. Unfortunately, the ani- mal’s markings were not the same as Long’s cat. __ “We have had calls. We have raced out there probably a dozen _ times, but it has never been ~ Riley,” said Long. tons of | Long’s missing cat led to a rare conviction under the Criminal Code relating to animal neglect. Long’s neighbor John Kent Barbour, 55, was found guilty on April 6 of: ® stealing the cat between Feb. 13, 1998 and March 3, 1998; @ neglecting to provide food, water and shelter for the cat. North Vancouver provin- cial court Judge Jerome Paradis placed Barbour on six months’ probation. Barbour was required to pay $300 restitution. The restitution covered some of the money spent in search of the missing animal. Barbour was required to perform 20 hours of commu- nity work for the “benefit” of the SPCA, . The News was unable to reach Barbour to press time. Long said that after the cat went missing she put up posters and searched their Pemberton Heights neigh- borhood. Long lived in the 1000-block of West 21st Street. FUTON BLOWOUT! 7 ieee ae at ACTORY FUTON ance intearlane — Hen.- Sa. Pes ANY OIL CHANGE PACKAGE Formerly Shell Rapid Lube Lonsdale & 71 N. Vancouver 35-1050 ni 3d9” laclcdes: sald pine sofa bet fram, figs feams cote fovea, sceich-gearéed frtea coves, pales ata piles Cavers, Wale gezatiies last Pa 4iL CHANGE = Since 1978 LTD. She placed ads in the News. Long got a call from a rel- ative of Barbour’s whe had overheard him talking about the missing cat. Barbour lived a few hous- es away from Long and Girdler. The couple didn’t know Barbour. Girdler subsequently con- fronted Barbour about the missing cat. Barbour eventually revealed that he had taken a cat to a rural part of Langley. Barbour claimed his olde cat had been involved in a number of altercations with Riley. Long was not told about any of the altercations. Long hopes thar someone is providing her cat a home, but feels the animal may have been killed by a coyote. Long said that cats in rural Langley stay close to barns and houses to avoid becoming coyote prey. Long’s cat would have been easy prey for coyotes. 102 Wost ist Ave. Va! 872-7225 pe Long still has her other Maine coon called Toby. She got both cats from the SPCA for $50 each. “— just treated them like they were my kids. They are reaily special to me,” said Long. Long and Girdler moved five months later because of this incident. They -now live in West Vancouver. Long was aware that criminal prosecutions involy- ing animals are rare. She said the cat meant enough for her to go through the lengthy court process. She wasn’t expecting any consequence to come of the incident in court. “Court cases take so Jong. You start putting your life back together again and then all of a sudden your court case comes up and you have to re-live every moment,” said Long. She said that sentences should be tougher to deter people from conducting this type of crime. . im? | If you have been injured in an auto accident i Call Stephen Anderson ., 922-8881 . SAGER ANDERSON LAWRENCE Barristers 8 Solicitors 235-15th Street, West Vancouver Sunday, August 15, 1999 — North Shore News - 5 White backs Reform vote Bob Mackin News Reporter TED White voted against the United Alternative, but he’s not joining fellow scru- tineers to question the voting process. The North Vancouver Reform Party MP was one of five people who observed the June 16 ally ia Calgary. Reform members voted to continuc a program to invite other parties, especially the Progressive Conservatives, to form an anti-Liberal coalition before the next federal elec- tion. Two of White’s scrutincer- ing cohorts, both UA oppo- nents, have gone public in recent weeks alleging voting irregularities. “There are always people that are disgruntled and get upset with the democratic process,” White said. “That's whar’s happening here.” Approximately 65,000 bal- lots were mailed to members five weeks in advance under the auspices of auditor Grant Thornton Chartered Accountants. As many as 10,000 ballots were available for new members, renewed members and those who had lose their original ballots. White said 6,000 were mailed, but it’s not known how many We specialize iis cusiom design #2-2436 Marine Dr., West Von 922-3014 cwoct taney were returned. The Reform Party’s cost- conscious executive council opted to gather those votes at the national office before for- warding them to the auditor. “Although I didn’t see a list of names the ballots went to, I was completely satisfied there had been no interference with the process,” he said. White was opposed to the UA because he feared it would aplit the party “and cause the problems that are happening right now.” He said there’s no guaran- tee voters would come along with the UA, if it becomes a reality by next election. He said constituents voted for a Reform MP “and I’m not sure they'd be happy to find he was something ele” Information is power, Consider an investment that’s truly plugged in. 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