Wrong man targeted for cat killing

The Daily Inter Lake

John Lawler is the street superintendent for the city of Columbia Falls.

He doesn't kill cats.

Lawler, 37, has the misfortune of sharing a name with Jon Lawler, 19, of Evergreen. The latter man incensed people by using and killing pet kittens to train his hunting dog.

Since news broke of that event, John Lawler has received hate mail and hateful calls.

"It's just kind of disturbing," he said Wednesday. "People jump to conclusions."

His phone number is unlisted, but people who objected to the younger Lawler's actions were tenacious in finding a way to contact the wrong John Lawler, even going through his parents.

He would like people to know he doesn't kill cats.

"I don't approve of it," he said. "I think it's cruelty."

Not everyone agrees with him.

A Kalispell doctor went to some effort to contact John Lawler.

"He was defending the kid. He was going to help with his legal fees," John Lawler said.

He declined the offer of financial assistance.