Man accused of stuffing his cat into a bong

from the Associated Press
Monday, March 2, 2009

OMAHA, NEBRASKA - A man who tried to cool out his hyper cat by stuffing
her into a boxlike homemade bong faces cruelty charges - and catcalls
from animal lovers.

Lancaster County sheriff's deputies responding to a domestic disturbance
call Sunday alleged they saw 20-year-old Acea Schomaker smoking
marijuana through a piece of garden hose attached to a duct-taped,
plastic glass box in which the cat had been stuffed.

"This cat was just dazed," Sgt. Andy Stebbing said. "She was on the
front seat of the cop car, wrapped in a blanket, and never moved all the
way to the humane society."

Schomaker told deputies 6-month-old Shadow was hyper and he was trying
to calm her down. The contraption she had been stuffed inside was 12
inches by 6 inches. Shadow was timid but in good condition Monday at the
Capital Humane Society, executive director Bob Downey said.

"What the human mind doesn't invent, huh?" Downey said.

Schomaker was cited for misdemeanor animal cruelty and paid a $400 fine.
He also faces drug charges. He did not immediately respond to phone
messages left Monday seeking comment.