Saturday September 12, 2009, 12:01 am
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 “put 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.

Saturday September 12, 2009, 3:02 pm
Have people gone stark raving mad? The neighbour from hell,and a stupid plonker of a trigger happy police officer who dosen't know the difference between a wild dangerous animal,and a poor defenceless 19 year old cat. Crazy people. The police officer has committed a serious crime,and must be charged with animal cruelty, by not charging him it makes a complete mockery of the law,and by the very people who are supposed to uphold the law...The officer did not even know to call animal control to deal with the situation, he just decided to kill a family pet. This makes me so mad......So very sad poor Tobey had to meet up with these stupid ah's.

Saturday September 12, 2009, 4:03 pm
I couldn't agree more, Irene-maybe it has something to do with Mayberry. They all seem to be completely incompetent and unjustifiable brutal as well.

Saturday September 12, 2009, 4:39 pm
Feral cats run away from humans it seems to me that the cop is a cat hater and got his thrill to kill. My heart goes out to Tobey's family. Thanks Raf.

Saturday September 12, 2009, 4:46 pm
I agree completely with Gudrun. The cop must of been a cat-hater. Thanks, Raf.

Saturday September 12, 2009, 5:18 pm
To many trigger happy people these days and that poor cat was 19 years old. Sickening
Thanks Raffi

Saturday September 12, 2009, 6:42 pm
I also agree with Gudrun and Irene. But I just can't get a grip on the whole story to begin with. What kind of town is that: There is a 6 lb. declawed cat going for a walk, maybe for the first time in 18 years?, and immediately gets hosed down by a neighbor and then someone calls the police and they shoot the cat twice in the head???
I mean, how did Tobey even survive 18 years in an environment like that??
And besides that: who called the police please to report a large vicious feral that supposedly injured a child??
Maybe it was a coyote disguised as a cat, they are not afraid of humans anymore. Or the caller doesn't know what a cat looks like?? I will keep track of this story, and also make sure I never come near that town, very spooky.

Saturday September 12, 2009, 6:46 pm
I agree that something was seriously wrong in Mayberry and that was one creepy trigger-happy cop

So sad for family and Toby. Thanks for letting us know.

Saturday September 12, 2009, 6:53 pm
The Police Chief's name is Mayberry and the whole scenario is like something out of the Twilight Zone-let's see if the Humane Society can exact any kind of justice for Tobey in their investigation.

Saturday September 12, 2009, 7:34 pm
To Irene, not every town has animal control or a local humane society, and even if they do, they have their office hours. I live in a town like that, and on and off we don't have police either. Currently we have all of the above, that can change from one day to the next. But I agree that not charging the officer with animal cruelty is setting a bad, bad example and happens much too often, sadly.

Saturday September 12, 2009, 7:47 pm
well, I just checked (should have done that earlier) and seems that Raymore has police 24/7 and animal control and animal shelter and what have you, but after reading more about the incident in other articles made it all even more confusing to me. I was advised in one article as a cat lover not to come close to Raymore and that is what I will keep in mind.

Saturday September 12, 2009, 11:08 pm
Trigger happy cops again! Where did they get this idea from the UK's RSPCA like happened to a tortoise that had been a pet for 40 years and a cat that "strayed into next doors garden. These idiots should really get hold of the facts before they start killing mania or are we going to contract animal control to the Chinese! Really what planet was this officer from, Planet OG strikes again! May the soul of Tobey cat rest in eternal peace in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Amen!

Saturday September 12, 2009, 11:10 pm
And of course; Ban Guns and all killing weapons! Cops are the last people to be trusted with guns! Plant Trees save lives!

Saturday September 12, 2009, 11:44 pm
Thanks Rafael,noted.

Saturday September 12, 2009, 11:47 pm
OMG, Tks Raffi

Sunday September 13, 2009, 12:59 am
Are these neighbours from hell who called the police to report the cat going to be charged with filing a false complaint or wasting police time? Why are people cat hatists? Poor Tobey his world came crshing down with two bangs and a very nasty neighbour, I doubt Raymore is actually any different tha any other town or city any where else. It will have it's idiots and it's wonderful people. It's rather like saying the UK's RSPCA is all bad because some of it's officers kill animals or because the have a multi million £ HQ all shiney and new! Any of us would I think be appalled to be tainted with tar brush of cruelty just because we lived in a particular town or country. After all is said and done there are animal activists in China, Japan and Korea! Even Mickey Mouse cannot keep the animal abusers out of Florida for example!

Sunday September 13, 2009, 1:49 am
Well said, Chris. Well said.

Sunday September 13, 2009, 1:50 am
Shoot 1st & ask questions after . Trigger happy cops. Neighbours with nothing better to do than complain about a stray cat in the 1st place. Glad I dont live in that neighbourhood. Very sad outcome for this poor cat.

Sunday September 13, 2009, 5:36 am
I will never understand (and don't want to) why people find entertainment in the torture and death of a living, breathing being. This is disgusting.

Sunday September 13, 2009, 6:53 am
I can take this a lot of places! People do things like this because they are ignorant; they have no life or a reason. If I’m not mistaken this is how Jeffery Delmar started out. So pathetic, but this isn’t going to bring our wonderful furry critter back. Animal torture is a crime and it should not be taken lightly. SAD!!!

Sunday September 13, 2009, 10:24 am
This cop may never have spoken to a supervisor fo all we know-he may have just decided this would be his sport for the day...these things have happened-many years ago in Fort Lauderdale there were 5 woman missing. They were found buried under a construction site at Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood Airport-a cop did the murders. This guy was just a ruthless monster as far as I was concerned looking for any excuse to take a defenseless creature and destroy it all under the guise of authority.

Sunday September 13, 2009, 4:36 pm
Change Org has a petition up-please visit
http://www.care2.com/news/member/160802723/1248128

Sunday September 13, 2009, 5:55 pm
Have people gone stark raving mad? Why is everyone so trigger happy?
There are some people who should never be allowed to handle guns or become Police officers. I get shivers when I think about this horrible crime. Of course, there will be no punishment.

Sunday September 13, 2009, 5:58 pm
Please don't forget to sign the petition for Tobey!

Thursday September 17, 2009, 1:37 am
http://www.care2.com/news/member/160802723/1251731 just posted-