How much is the life of a cat worth?

That was the question a Bloomfield, Iowa, jury faced in a recent court case involving two teenagers who admitted to breaking into a Fairfield, Iowa, animal shelter and killing and injuring 23 cats.

The jury had to decide on the dollar value of the cats to establish appropriate charges — a misdemeanor if the cats were valued under $500 or a felony if the cats were valued above that dollar amount.

The jury decided the homeless cats were collectively not worth $500 and the boys in their late teens were charged with misdemeanors instead of felonies.

Many Iowans, myself included, were outraged that the boys got off so easy for such a violent and horrendous act. While I’m sure no one wants two young adults to go to jail, they should get a stiffer punishment than a simple fine.

Perhaps they should be required to work long hours of community service in an animal shelter, under supervision, of course. Maybe this kind of activity would teach them and other people why defenseless cats should not be brutalized.

The jury’s decision to place little value on the lives and welfare of the 23 stray cats is indicative of a larger societal problem.

Because they breed so quickly, animals are sometimes seen as expendable or, worse, disposable. They’re not a limited resource and, consequently, animals are usually not very expensive and certainly not hard to find.

How many times have you seen a sign advertising “free to a good home?” While the free and plentiful puppies and kittens make wonderful pets, it is the “free” ones who often end up as strays or in an animal shelter.

Human irresponsibility is causing a lot of problems for our furry friends. Irresponsibility towards pets may result from the best of intentions — a cute new puppy for your kid’s birthday — but lead to having to give it up when it doesn’t work out with the new white carpet.

According to the United States Humane Society, animal shelters in the America accept 8 to 12 million animals each year. The Humane Society also estimates about 30 to 60 percent of all animals brought to shelters are put to sleep — that’s millions of animals being destroyed every year.

Now, maybe this destruction of unwanted animals isn’t nearly as violent as the attacks made on the Fairfield cats by the two teen-agers. However, it is still destruction caused, in most cases, by irresponsibility.

Last year’s release of Disney’s “101 Dalmatians” created a trend in Dalmatian puppy availability in animal shelters in January and February because the cute Christmas gift to kids turned into a very active young dog. Irresponsible.

Other owners may love their pets and provide good homes, but fail to spay and neuter their pet, potentially adding to the growing numbers of homeless pets. Irresponsible.

Some people may even adopt a homeless animal from a shelter with good intentions, but not realize the commitment of pet ownership. It’s not fair for an animal to be adopted only to be taken back to the cages of the shelter, left to roam the streets or passed on to other owners. Irresponsible.

I know this country faces other questions due to personal irresponsibility (financial, parental, etc.) that are more widespread problems. However, there is no excuse for the mistreatment of animals.

If you do adopt or buy a new friend, remember to get it spayed or neutered if you don’t plan to breed it responsibly in the future. Please remember a pet is a huge responsibility and can be a 10-year-or-longer commitment.

They might not have a market value of $500, but animals have an intrinsic value. You can not put a dollar amount on the purr of a cat or the wag of a dog’s tail.

This past week I lost a beloved and dear friend — my 14-year-old golden retriever, Honey. She was my companion throughout my childhood and teen-age years and I will miss her greatly. Her worth can not be figured in a dollar amount.

People reading this column might argue she was a companion animal, not a homeless stray cat.

Yet, the homeless stray cats attacked in Fairfield and the millions of dogs and cats sitting alone in shelter cages are capable of the same love, fun and understanding my dog and I shared.

They just need some humane person willing to take on some responsibility. And, believe me, they’re worth it.

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Jonquil Wegmann is a senior in community and regional planning from Bellevue.