Please  CALL  or  E-MAIL:  Donald Bradley . . .

816-234-4182  or  dbradley@kcstar.com

. . . to voice your support of the City's plan to:  require an animal control officer to always be on call . . . And strays to be taken to clinics or shelters . . .

HERE'S the WHOLE STORY:

Humane Society of Missouri to examine shooting of 19-year-old cat in Raymore

By DONALD BRADLEY,  The Kansas City Star

The Humane Society of Missouri is investigating the death of Tobey, a family’s cat shot twice in the head on Labor Day by a Raymore police officer.

Also Friday, the acting police chief in the Cass County community said his officers have been schooled this week to make sure they know the protocol for dealing with animal control issues.

“They know now, I guarantee you that,” Capt. Roger Mayberry said.

Mayberry had a rough week. Tobey’s shooting and disposal in a trash bin outraged animal lovers and brought a storm of criticism.

According to reports, police thought they were dealing with a large, vicious, feral cat. In fact, Tobey was 19, deaf, declawed, weighed 6 pounds and had lived with his family for 18 years.

Mayberry has since apologized to Tobey’s owner and sought Friday to satisfy residents and critics that the incident would not be repeated.

The officers involved will not be punished, he said Friday, but he added that an investigation is ongoing.

Brian Williams, an investigator for the humane society, said he would take several days to interview the officers and anyone else involved.

Tobey apparently got out of his house Monday and wandered down the street to a neighbor’s garage. A call came to police that a stray cat had acted aggressively and perhaps scratched a child.

The neighbor tried to shoo Tobey away by dousing him with a garden hose.

After police captured the cat, a supervisor told an officer to take the cat to a remote area and “ut him down.”

At the same time, Tobey’s family was out looking for him. They were shocked to learn what happened.

On Friday, Mayberry said the city was working on a new plan that would require an animal control officer to always be on call. Currently, no one is available after hours, on weekends or on holidays.

Also, strays would be taken to clinics or shelters. Dead animal would be taken to Wayside Waifs for disposal, Mayberry said.

To reach Donald Bradley . . .

CALL: 816-234-4182   or

E-MAIL: dbradley@kcstar.com

Posted on Fri, Sep. 11, 2009 11:11 PM

http://www.kansascity.com/news/local/story/1439772.html

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