Sunday September 13, 2009, 4:33 pm
RAYMORE, MO OFFICER SHOOTS HELPLESS DEAF 19 YEAR OLD CAT & STUFFS IN TRASH BAG

To: PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), Teresa Hensley (Prosecuting State Attorney) and Juan I. Alonzo & City Council (Mayor, and City Council)

Started by: L. Swa_

Please sign the Petition-an email will be sent to the Mayor of Raymore, MO; The State Attorney's office (Cass County), and PETA. Since the Police Officer alleges he thought the cat had rabies-I included the State Attorney's office maybe this should also be reported to the Health Department, that is, the policeman is saying the cat had rabies which is extremely SERIOUS for rabies can be transmitted to humans and once symptomatic is 100% fatal, and a very painful death. So who was exposed-and rabies injections may need to be given! Or if the cop is being untruthful, we are talking about MAJOR animal cruelty which I would think is in violation of State laws.

Toby was a 19 year old cat-beloved family pet who is deaf lived with his family for 18 years-and was declawed most of his life. The cat, being so helpless and ELDERLY weighed only six pounds--this cat even had his own prescription card at Wal-greens. Toby was well taken care of and deeply loved. By accident the cat snuck outside. Then a Raymore MO police officer, alleging he thought it had rabies, shot it in the head TWICE and stuffed the cat's body (with exposed brain tissue and fluids) in a trash bag, disposing of it in the city *trash bin*. Again--let me emphasize-he picked up this allegedly rabid cat with his hands, threw the body in a trash bag-and threw it in the garbage. Apparently approved by his supervisor. This is horribly cruel and my deepest sympathies for the cat's family for having their beloved pet-a member of the family-brutally snuffed and thrown in a trash bag.

Now--The police officer alleges he thought the cat had RABIES!!! If he believed the cat had rabies WHY did he have to shoot the cat twice in the head (body fluids can splash and destroys lab analysis confirming rabies). Then PICKED an alleged rabid cat with his HANDS, & throw it in a trash bag--where body fluid can splash on him during that process. I'm certainly no cop and I know nothing about law-but common sense dictates-Animal control should have been called and the cat would have been put under quarantine and if without symptoms in so many days is brought back to the family-ALIVE. Everybody knows that! IF symptomatic the cat would have been HUMANELY euthanized with brain INTACT to examine and confirm rabies (an intact brain is absolutely essential for rabies analysis). If the police officer believed the cat had rabies, he has endangered the family of the cat by destroying Toby, and he endangered the community-you just don't stuff an alleged rabid cat in the trash not knowing if it truly had rabies and throw it in the city trash bin not knowing who was exposed-he does claim he thought it had rabies. If the cat were positive all who had been exposed to the cat require rabies injections. Quickly! Once rabies symptoms appears it is ~~100% fatal~~ and extremely painful way to die. The whole thing doesn't make any sense. If the cop sticks with his story, does this mean everybody needs rabies injections???

I feel it is outright animal cruelty as it is outrageous. Don't you all have laws against animal cruelty? And this man carries a gun. Now THAT is scary.

I feel it is outright animal cruelty as it is outrageous. Don't you all have laws against animal cruelty? And this man carries a gun. Now THAT is scary.

PLEASE SEE NEWS ARTICLE AT:

http://www.kansascity.com/115/story/1437680.html?mi_pluck_action=comment_submitted&qwxq=9702892#Comments_Container

Per the article-this is the city's response: "On Thursday, Wesner questioned why, if police suspected Tobey had rabies, they would shoot him in the head when the brain would be needed for testing. And then dispose of the body without doing any testing. “We do not know what they were thinking,” Wesner said Thursday. City Manager Eric Berlin told the mayor and council members in a memo that the city should reconsider its procedures for euthanizing animals because protocol was not followed in this case."

Is the fact that someone's pet was murdered and thrown in a trash bag a trivial matter, or does ANIMAL CRUELTY mean anything to anybody anymore. Perhaps the State should step on on this?? Also-should the health department be notified??


Thank you for your time and reading.

Sunday September 13, 2009, 4:48 pm
Signed, of course.

Sunday September 13, 2009, 6:02 pm
Signed. Thank You.

Sunday September 13, 2009, 6:24 pm
Thanks Raffi.

Joycey Berry Canton, NC
Sent letter to Juan I. Alonzo & City Council (Mayor, and City Council) , Teresa Hensley (Prosecuting State Attorney) and PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals)
about 6 hours ago

Sunday September 13, 2009, 10:00 pm
Thannnxxx... they cannot say this cat was rabid without have the brain sent off to a lab for testing.. The cruel bastards need to be held responsible for the cruely to this senior cat... i think it is absolutely disgusting, without any feeling or regard, they just think another cat, which is unjustified as this animal has feelings, emotions and is a living creature - shame on them.. It rally makes me sic to the stomach

Monday September 14, 2009, 1:44 am
Noted & Signed.Thanks

Monday September 14, 2009, 7:31 am
Wow, the stupidity of some. This is a sick individual who perhaps deserves a bout of rabies....ok, that was cruel, I know.

Monday September 14, 2009, 7:51 am
Signed...reminds of when a Clarksville, Tennessee police officer shot a chihuahua (probably not spelled right) because he felt threatened by it....My prayers go out to this family.

Monday September 14, 2009, 7:58 am
It reminds me of how an innocent boxer (Otis) was tasered by a policeman
twice because he thought it was a pit bull. This policeman and all of them need lessons in animal welfare. What a beautiful cat and what a wonderful family to have had him for 19 years. He and they deserved better.

Monday September 14, 2009, 8:36 am
poor baby. one more victim of our cruel society. Signed, of course!

Monday September 14, 2009, 10:58 am
Noted and signed,thank you.

Monday September 14, 2009, 12:06 pm
Thank you Raffi.

Monday September 14, 2009, 1:20 pm

Noted & signed

Monday September 14, 2009, 5:39 pm
signed

Monday September 14, 2009, 7:39 pm
Please don't email the State Attorney's office anymore-they are not an investigating agency. Of course there is no way of me knowing that. Howver, the prosecuting attorney DID read the article with interest. The good news is that the Missouri Humane Society *IS* investigating the matter, and I have notified the health department due to this rather cruel and unorthodox of disposing with a "possible rabid cat" which anybody exposed to this cat will require rabies vaccinations, but there is no way of knowing since the cop destroyed the brain and there is no way to observe the behavior.

Monday September 14, 2009, 7:40 pm
Here is a thought if the Cat owner was responsible and did not let the cat roam then it would still be here. Also I have to tie up or fence in my dog plus put license on her. I bet the cat did not have one. You are the same people who were mad when my dog killed a cat that came into my fenced in yard. to bad to sad one less cat.

Monday September 14, 2009, 7:41 pm
I have changed the State Attorney's office email to the City Manager. But also be assured the DA's office has read the story!!! I have sent a message to their health department, their police chief, and a copy to the Govenor's office!

Have a great day and thank you for your compassion!!!!

Monday September 14, 2009, 7:42 pm
So thank you for signing!!! And yes the Missouri Humane Society IS INVESTIGATING so that's soo cool!!!! And please keep on signing and spreading the word!!! THIS IS NOT CHINA!! WE DO NOT CULL ANIMALS HERE!!!

Monday September 14, 2009, 7:49 pm
This is for Fred F.-please consider cats can sneak out. I have two indoor cats. One stays indoors 100% of the time but the other sneaks out once in a blue moon (but comes in within seconds)-it still happens. Regardless it does not give license to SHOOT and KILL cats on sight. If we let this happen we will become like China, who is clubbing dogs to death (even if they have owners but that's another petition). Yes the owners should have kept the cat indoors but accidents DO happen, regardless gives nobody the authority to shoot and kill cats on sight. There are MILLIONS of outdoor cats across America, even homeless and feral ones-millions in each state. Don't tell me you think they should be shot on site. I hope not.

Tuesday September 15, 2009, 7:36 am
Signed on 13th & sent da emails... Teresa Hemsley replied n said ...blah... to contact the Mayor etc... I am sure other people got the same response. I don't know how to import text from my "ordinary" inbox on Outlook Express, into care2 messaging -- anyone know how? Thanks Raffi & Ctherine for bringing this to our attention.

Tuesday September 15, 2009, 2:17 pm
This is horrible Signed!

Tuesday September 15, 2009, 4:04 pm
You signed this petition on Sep 13 and emailed the following targets:

Juan I. Alonzo & City Council (Mayor, and City Council) , Teresa Hensley (Prosecuting State Attorney) and PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
Thanks Raffi

Wednesday September 16, 2009, 9:47 am
The cop probably doesn't like animals. No other reason for bopping off an old cat. No one handles a 'rabid' animal without taking precautions. This was an act of cruelty. Period. By the way, some cats will sneak out. I do agree, however, cats need to be kept indoors for their own protection.

Wednesday September 16, 2009, 6:08 pm
Action taken and forwared...no enough for this person.

He will get what he deserves in the end, even if the laws do not give it to him...

This is just SICK!!!

Wednesday September 16, 2009, 7:02 pm
Raf, This is the reply to my e-mail of 9-13-09:

From: Teresa Hensley Date: 9/14/2009 3:39:10 PM

I appreciate your email and your concern. As the Cass County Prosecutor, I
am not an investigative agency. Unless and until one of the law enforcement
agencies sends me a report with a named suspect, I have no information to
review. In this instance, I have read the articles in the paper but have
not received anything from an investigative agency. I have no authority to
tell Raymore Police Department what to do. They are a separate entity from
the Prosecutor's Office. However, their higher authority is your Mayor and
your City Council persons. You can request from your Mayor and City Council
that an investigation be done by an outside agency. Once that agency has
done the investigation, they can then submit the reports to my office for
review. I will review whatever is presented to my office. Again, at this
time, I have had nothing presented to me in order to review this matter.

If you have any further questions, feel free to call my office @
816-380-8250

Teresa Hensley

Wednesday September 16, 2009, 9:42 pm
I realize that-that's why I changed the email address from DA Hensley to the City Manager.

Wednesday September 16, 2009, 9:55 pm
Thank you Luke-greatly appreciated...Whatever it takes to have some justice for Tobey.

Wednesday September 16, 2009, 10:19 pm
yes and if the cop gets away with this it will be legal for any cop to shoot any cat just for target practice.

Wednesday September 16, 2009, 10:32 pm
This investigation needs to be across the board-everyone was lax and incompetent here under the not so watchful eyes of Chief Mayberry-this is like a bad episode of Twilight Zone and it cannot stand!

Wednesday September 16, 2009, 10:48 pm
PETA-the national organization, is monitoring this case closely. I also sent a message to the ATTORNEY GENERAL and GOVERNOR of MO. Also the health department of MO due to the mishandling of this whole unfortunately very tragic affair. But bottom line this is not for an individual cat-if the cops get away with this-it will mean the cops can do TARGET PRACTICE to any cat they wish. When cops torture or kill animals with cruelty they will anger a LOT of animal activists and we just WILL NOT let this go away. See how upset the family was: Watch this video from action news:
http://www.nbcactionnews.com/news/local/story/Family-Upset-that-Police-Shoot-Kill-Family-Pet/TsLp8dZtzkKY0AaT8YXgWg.cspx

Wednesday September 16, 2009, 10:51 pm
What I meant is that this whole thing IS for that 19 year old cat and the pure injustice and cruelty of it, but a wider scope if the cops get away with this they will do target practice to any cat or dog and just get away with it.

Wednesday September 16, 2009, 11:29 pm
http://www.nbcactionnews.com/media/lib/92/8/f/8/8f851b67-df02-4130-88a3-79b97217d0a2/catAPOLOGY090909.pdf

This leaves me dumbfounded...there are a half dozen pathetic and useless excuses embedded in Mayberry's feeble note of apology-I think Mayberry thinks he can plead non compis mentis for his sad little police department and just brush it off.

He begs off because the cat was in a defensive state (according the goofy report from the goofy neighbor with all four feet OUT(was he levitating) and his CLAWS (he had none) EXTENDED-this neighbor had time to see all the claws that weren't there extended-he is dousing a sick cat with a hose and the CHILD in question is never mentioned again-that seems to have been washed away with the other logic that is non-existent.

Forgive me going into OCD over this but there are more holes in this song and dance than there are in lace Swiss cheese. He can't dig himself out of this hole so he uses the CAT'S illnesses as a foil for his department's own cold-blooded stupidity and brutality-the animal is supposed to have rabies and the guy takes him to a field and shoots him not once (a 6 POUND CAT)-but TWICE in the HEAD-there goes that exhibit A-and all the evidence ---and then he prattles on about the shift commander telling him to euthanize the cat-was there no conversation between them about the cat foaming at the mouth-or looking for any ID on the cat or a possible OPTION of saving the animal? The poor cat was deaf and didn't know a thing about it!

-HOW DID EITHER OF THESE IDIOTS KNOW THIS CAT WAS RABID OR ANYTHING ELSE-and then he says "LAST SPRING we implemented a protocol where an animal was transferred to Wayside Waiffs to be cremated (and TOBEY WAS DENIED EVEN THAT RESPECT because)" UNFORTUNATELY our OFFICER WAS UNAWARE OF IT-and without any further guidance on the matter disposed of that cat as they always have done" AND FOR THAT I APOLOGIZE

-that your cat was shot twice in the head and the entire affair was handled like a cartoon----well, cest la vie.

Sorry, Mayberry but I would love to be handling the suit against the department that I hope this family files because I would have to bring your little note out for Exhibit A and we'd go from there-there'd be a host of non-professional moments to present in this sad drama. And they'd own every brick in your little police station.

This was INCOMPETENCY and stupidity and brutality and that's all it was. When I read this letter from him I went ballistic. Thanks Luke-I'm glad I could read this-there was no validity, I think, to the neighbor's hysterical and nonsensical complaint or to what followed using the excuse of rabies or a feral cat-it doesn't fly. It sank like a stone. I rest my case.

Thursday September 17, 2009, 1:36 am
http://www.care2.com/news/member/160802723/1251731

Worth a read.

Thursday September 17, 2009, 6:24 am
There is something else that is serious-the child in question-if the kid finds out the cat was shot in the head, and most likely the kid did find out, could bring severe psychological scars-the kid is going to blame herself. I don't know how old the kid was but chances are old enough to understand. Of course that means nothing to the police department as well.