Appealed animal cruelty ticket stands

Lasse Kivioja came before the board and said he didn't understand why he was issued a ticket for a dead possum on his Lafayette property located near Miami Elementary School. Animal Control Officer Monica Alcorn explained what she found.

"Would you mind telling me how it died?" Alcorn said she asked Kivioja when she arrived at his home. "He said 'I killed it.' How did you kill it?" she asked. "'I shot it in the head.' I said, "What did you shoot it with?' 'My 22,'" she explained.

City attorney Ed Chosnek said the animal control officer can set the fine any where between $50 and $250.

"Is there a reason you thought $150 was appropriate?" Chosnek asked Alcorn.

"Actually I should of written it for more," said Alcorn. "We've been out there numerous times."

Animal Control visited Kivioja four times in the past year. Kivioja asked not to appear on camera, but New Channel 18 recorded his statement at the public meeting.

"I always loved animals," said Kivioja. "I still do and animals love me."

Chosnek then questioned him about why the possum died.

"Did you trap the possum?," said Chosnek.

"Yes," said Kivioja.

"Did you shot the possum?" asked Chosnek.

"Yes," answered Kivioja.

"Why?," said Chosnek.

"To kill it," said Kivioja.

"Why did you kill it?" asked Chosnek.

"Well, I refuse to live in a house infested with possums," responded Kivioja.

"Your house has a lot of possums?" questioned Chosnek.

"Because of what I'm doing, we don't have any possums," said Kivioja.

The board voted unanimously to let the ticket stand. Lafayette Police Officer Jackie Becker explained firing a gun within city limits is illegal and could result in his arrest. Kivioja did not want to comment on the ruling. Animal Control Office Monica Alcorn hopes she won't be called to his house again.

"I wanted to get the point across this is not allowed," she said.

Kivioja will have 30 days to pay the ticket.

The board also reviewed changes to the animal control ordinance. An amendment would let pet owners purchase a multiple pet license for $100 a year. People would be allowed to have any combination of dogs or cats up to six animals. The current ordinance lets pet owners to have up to three dogs and three cats.