Story Archive

Pixie and Dixie and Mr. Jinks Ride Again

Jesse Dorsett, 48, of Sandy, Ore., has three cats: Pixie, Dixie, and Jinx, named after the Hanna-Barbara cartoon characters. The cats enjoy riding on the hood of his car: Dorsett will drive at about 5 mph on the edge of parking lots while one sits on the hood, scanning the grass for prey. The cats are always on a leash and held as close as possible to the windshield. If it jumps off, he’ll stop and either he or his wife will get out and take them for a short walk on the leash. Dorsett tried to explain this to a woman who took photos of Pixie on his hood, and then had to explain it to police, who called asking if his cat was injured. Dorsett shot a short video of Pixie and sent it to the officer, and the matter was dropped. “I don’t think it’s a good idea to be doing that and it’s certainly something we can’t recommend,” said a police spokesman, who added there’s no law against cats riding on moving vehicles, although there is one against dogs doing so. (MS/Portland Oregonian) ...Now we know which species has the stronger lobby.