NATCHEZ — Natchez animal control officer Lisa Freeman went to catch a cat Monday morning and came back with a horse.

For Freeman, it is a rare sight to see a horse without its owner wandering down city streets. But that is exactly what Freeman saw Monday morning while setting out cat traps near Oak Street.

The city animal ordinance does allow horses and other livestock within the city limits, Freeman said.

“Everything but pigs,” she pointed out.

The city doesn’t allow livestock or chickens to run at large within the city limits. Freeman said the brown and black mare was apparently without her owner and was walking up the street.

“I found her walking down Oak Street, and she headed for Myrtle Street,” Freeman said. “She went into the yard at The Towers.”

Freeman caught the horse with her lead still tied and led it to the former Waste Management lot on Wall Street.

Since the equestrian barns at Liberty Park were demolished a little more than 10 years ago, the city has not had an adequate area to hold horses and other farm animals. Although it is has become an increasingly rare occurrence, Freeman says the city does have to corral escaped horses and other large animals from time to time.

The former Waste Management lot is not especially suited for horses, but it is the only fenced in area the city owns that is large enough, Freeman said. The building does not have running water and does not have an adequate amount of food. The majority of the fenced in area is either dirt and gravel or concrete.

Freeman, Natchez Humane Society member Barbara Platte and next-door neighbor Hayden Petkovsek spent about an hour Monday securing the lot and getting food and water for the horse.

The city is obligated to keep the horse for three days to give the owner an opportunity to retrieve the horse, Freeman said. After three days, the city can put the horse up for auction, she said.

With the help of neighbors, Freeman said she already may have a lead on the identity of the horse’s owner.

Until the owner is identified, the horse will remain at it’s formerly trashy city home for two more days. After that, its future is uncertain.

If you have information about the horse and it owner, call Freeman at 601-442-6452.