A heartless landlord unlawfully entered a tenant’s home in Southeast Portland and nabbed the man’s best friend, a 3-year-old feline named Frank, according to a lawsuit filed Thursday in Multnomah County Circuit Court.

Joshua Smith is seeking up to $250,000 from the landlord and property owner for the alleged catnapping, court documents show. He is also offering $500 to anyone who finds his precious pet, who remains missing.

“Frank is plaintiff’s best friend and life companion,” the suit says. “Losing Frank has caused plaintiff severe ongoing worry and anxiety.”

Michael Fuller, an attorney for Smith, said he is not aware of any property rule or written policy prohibiting his client from keeping the pet in his home.

A former heroin and methamphetamine user, Smith said he found Frank as an abandoned kitten while attending recovery meetings at the Alano Club of Portland three years ago. The helpless tabby was in the treatment center’s parking lot.

“He was starving and had an eye swollen shut," Smith told The Oregonian/OregonLive in an interview. “I took him home. We’ve been buddies ever since.”

The pair grew close as Smith remained sober and began piecing his life back together. Smith’s Instagram page is chock-a-block with photos of him and Frank.

Last year, the pet owner decided to get a portrait of his beloved friend tattooed on his hand.

Last year, Joshua Smith got a tattoo of his best friend Frank on his hand.

“He was the only thing that loved me at the time,” Smith said. “Girlfriends come and go. Friends come and go. Frank’s been the one constant in my life.”

That changed this past Monday.

According to the lawsuit, landlord Devon Andrade entered Smith’s residence on Southeast 119th Avenue without permission or prior notice and intentionally removed Frank from the house.

Smith told The Oregonian/OregonLive that Andrade admitted to taking his cat because he wanted it out of the home. A neighbor told Smith he observed the landlord holding Frank by the scruff of his neck and putting him into his car, he said. Smith hasn’t seen Frank since.

“Isn’t that totally messed up?” he asked.

Smith’s lawsuit claims Andrade intentionally inflicted emotional distress, unlawfully entered his home, and was negligent in his duties as a landlord. The complaint also names property owner Axford Lane LLC as a defendant.

Andrade declined to comment when reached by phone Friday. A representative for Axford Lane could not be reached.

Anyone with information about Frank is asked to call 503-222-2000.

-- Shane Dixon Kavanaugh; 503-294-7632

Email at skavanaugh@oregonian.com

Follow on Twitter @shanedkavanaugh

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