Family Lobbies for Policy Change After Police Kill Cat
Published August 29, 2011
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A family is currently grieving the loss of their cat after police shot the feline in the alley behind their home. They are asking for the police department's policy pertaining to stray animals to be changed as a result of the incident.
According to a story found on Officer.com, a Lebanon, Ohio family is lobbying for a change in policy after police shot their cat in an alley behind their home this Saturday.
The report says that the cat owner's neighbors called police to respond to a "sick looking cat" behind their home. When officer's showed up to the scene, they conversed and decided to take action according to the departmental policy. They then shot the cat.
The officer's were cleared of any wrongdoing, as they complied with the department's policy on handling stray animals, which is to "destroy sick and injured stray cats when they are found." The report also describes the city policy as saying that "under no circumstances is the officer to transport the [stray] animal in a city vehicle."
At the heart of the story seems to be the fact that the cat was not tagged for identification appropriately, causing the confusion as to whether this was an outdoor cat or a stray and sickly cat.
The report said that the family was devastated by the loss of their cat, and that they are lobbying for the police department to change their policy on handling strays.
Do you think that this treatment was appropriate by the police? Should the policy in this city that pertains to stray animals be changed to be a bit more accommodating?
Let us know what you think about this story in a comment!
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Comments (91)
Let's get real here, okay? Cops have a right to go home to their families, just like the rest of us. In a split second decision, some bad cat gets wasted...that saves taxpayers the cost of a trial and jail time for not having its ID. What if the cat looked like a small lion? Who can blame a cop for defending himself from a lion? If it comes down to a choice between the cop and the cat...I'M ON THE CAT'S SIDE. Residents of that city are fools to put up with such policies.
JAg was not properly tagged so was shot dead by Police.. Parent fail.
Jag you are a foolish twat.
"At the heart of the story seems to be the fact that the cat was not tagged for identification appropriately ...."
Owner failed.
It is the fault of th owners for not properly tagging the cat. They need to accept responsibility for their pets not make others responsible when they screw up.
wow.
I find it a little disturbing that the police in this particular city are not only authorized, but instructed to use a gun to kill an animal ANYWHERE in the city. What if this cat were say, in a school yard? Or perhaps, a crowded parking lot? This makes me wonder what other policies this city has in place regarding the use of deadly force.