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We will be there! The dates are May 1-3, the hours vary by which store you go to but we will be there on Friday afternoon, Saturday and Sunday 10-4. Come by and pick up a friend!
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Showing posts with label cat. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cat. Show all posts
Saturday, April 25, 2009
It's an Adoption Weekend!
Petsmart is having an adopt-a-thon and you are invited!
We will be there! The dates are May 1-3, the hours vary by which store you go to but we will be there on Friday afternoon, Saturday and Sunday 10-4. Come by and pick up a friend!
We will be there! The dates are May 1-3, the hours vary by which store you go to but we will be there on Friday afternoon, Saturday and Sunday 10-4. Come by and pick up a friend!
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Cat Risks Life to Save Owner
Kimberley was spared, but Sosa was bitten on the paw as a result. Amazingly, Sosa pulled through after just three days in an animal hospital.
Source: http://www.petcentric.com/article.aspx?C=1&OID=25#
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Low cost spay/neuter in Florida for ferals, pet cats and dogs!
The Humane Society of Manatee County at 2515 14th Street West (now Tamiami Trail) in Bradenton, Florida 34205 offers low cost spay and neuter. For more information please call (914) 747-8808 or email info@humanesocietymanatee.org
Surgery Fees
Dog Spay $65
Dog Neuter $55
Cat Spay $50
Cat Neuter $35
Umbilical hernia repair $15
Nail trim $ 5
Microchip $20
Cryptorchid No extra charge
Pregnant No extra charge
In Heat No extra charge
Ear Tip (feral cats only) No extra charge
Canine Vaccines
Rabies (required) includes tag $15
DA2LPPv (Distemper/Parvo) $10
Bordatella (Kennel Cough) $10
Heartworm Test $15
Feline Vaccines
Rabies (required) includes tag $15
FVRCP(distemper/upper resp) $10
FELV (feline leukemia) $10
FELV/FIV Combo Test $18
All cats must be tested prior to receiving the FELV vaccine.
Vaccines are ONLY given at the time of surgery
Procedures
* Surgery is performed Monday through Friday by appt only.
*Check in time is 8:00-8:30 am
*Pick up time Monday through Friday is 5:00 pm
* No female dogs on Friday
* We accept cash, credit or debit cards, no checks
* Your pet may not have any food after 12:00 midnight the night before surgery. Kittens and puppies younger than 4 months may not have food after 7:00 am the day of surgery. Any health concerns must be relayed to the clinic staff at check in.
* Feral cats must be in humane traps, one per trap. Owned cats must be in a carrier.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Cat critically ill after being fed cannabis
Fozzy the cat was rushed to Healthlands Veterinary Hospital after he stopped eating and collapsed. At first, the family thought that Fozzy had a virus. The vet somehow determined that the cat was possibly poisoned at contacted a vet who specializes in poisons. From the symptoms, they determined he had ingested cannabis.
The family believe someone in the Littlemoor area fed Fozzy the drugs as a prank while he was outside.
“The vet said it would take five days to get out of his system but he’s been having fits so we were asked to consider putting him down.”
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Middle School Teacher Starves her Two Cats Because of Long Work Hours and Social Life
Prosecutors upped the charges to two counts of felony cruelty to animals, saying her actions caused "excessive or repeated infliction of unnecessary pain or suffering." The new charges each carry a maximum penalty of up to five years in prison.
Mike Edmondson, spokesman for the Palm Beach County State Attorney's Office, said the agency would not elaborate on why the charges were upgraded.
Efforts to contact Allison Dinsmore, 26, on Monday were unsuccessful despite phone calls and messages to the number listed on the crime report. A phone message and an e-mail to her Miami-based attorney, Jordan Lewin, weren't returned.
Dinsmore told police in February that she had been working long hours at her school and spent a lot of time at her boyfriend's house. Police said she also went on a family camping trip while the cats starved.
She said she couldn't remember the last time she had been home, but thought she had left food and water for her cats.
Dinsmore is not teaching this week because schools are closed for Spring Break, school district spokeswoman Vickie Middlebrooks said. She couldn't say whether Dinsmore would be permitted to return to the Boynton Beach middle school when classes resume.
"The school district will open up a personnel investigation based on the state attorney's action," Middlebrooks said. "The district will examine all of the facts."
Dinsmore has worked at Congress Middle since August 2007 and has a clean employment record, according to the district. Her salary is listed as $36,100.
The two cats were found dead Feb. 23 by a manager at Boca Sol apartments. Police said Dinsmore hadn't paid rent, and a manger went to her home to talk to her and check out the apartment. The manager found the two dead cats, signs of a frenzied search for food and water, and feces and urine everywhere, according to police.
The smell was so bad, an officer had to cover his mouth with a rag when he first went inside, the report said.
A necropsy determined the cats suffered neglect for weeks or months before dying a slow, painful death from starvation and dehydration.
Why not drop this fine example of a human being a note at work:
dinsmore@palmbeach.k12.fl.us
I'm sure she'd love to hear from all of us.
Here's the email address of her principal (Kathy Harris) as well:
HarrisK@palmbeach.k12.fl.us
dinsmore@palmbeach.k12.fl.us
I'm sure she'd love to hear from all of us.
Here's the email address of her principal (Kathy Harris) as well:
HarrisK@palmbeach.k12.fl.us
The internet has exploded with cat lovers and "cat lover" haters giving their two cents.
Here's a guy who says cat lovers need to get a life and tells us to save our anger for human abuse. Click here to read his rant.
Sources:
http://www.pet-abuse.com/cases/15383/FL/US/RSS/
http://www.wptv.com/news/local/story/Teacher-arrested-for-starving-cats-to-death/cmw2gc4dSUi3O2mdT5VW2A.cspx
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/localnews/content/local_news/epaper/2009/03/31/0331cats.html?cxntlid=inform_sr
Sunday, February 22, 2009
People living in house with 13 dead cats and 2 dogs
Police continue to investigate cases of animal cruelty at an Arvada home, a suburb of Denver. The carcasses of 13 cats and two dogs were removed from a house at 54th & Cody on Tuesday.
Two dogs were rescued and are now awaiting adoption at the Table Mountain Animal Center .
Police say they've been to the home repeatedly since last summer on complaints of loose animals and trash in the yard.
"There were some calls that we came out and addressed those issues with the homeowners regarding dogs in the yard and such but there was nothing ever to lead us to believe what was happening inside the house and the number of dead animals that were inside the house," said Susan Medina, Arvada Police spokesperson.
One woman who noticed an underfed dog in the front yard last August wonders why more wasn't done.
"Because if they would have done something six months ago, they probably wouldn't have found 15 dead animals," said Carol, who didn't want her last name used. "Maybe four or five, but for 15 dead animals in six months, that's a little hard to believe."
Two dogs were rescued and are now awaiting adoption at the Table Mountain Animal Center .
Police say they've been to the home repeatedly since last summer on complaints of loose animals and trash in the yard.
"There were some calls that we came out and addressed those issues with the homeowners regarding dogs in the yard and such but there was nothing ever to lead us to believe what was happening inside the house and the number of dead animals that were inside the house," said Susan Medina, Arvada Police spokesperson.
One woman who noticed an underfed dog in the front yard last August wonders why more wasn't done.
"Because if they would have done something six months ago, they probably wouldn't have found 15 dead animals," said Carol, who didn't want her last name used. "Maybe four or five, but for 15 dead animals in six months, that's a little hard to believe."
Sources:
Animal shelter operators spent donations on drugs while cats languished and died
More than 70 malnourished cats and several cat carcasses were discovered by police Jan. 24 after the shelter's owner and operator, Virginia Kresge Justiniano, 49, and her boyfriend, Andrew Oxenrider, 38, of Tower City, were arrested on drug possession charges after a traffic stop in Pine Grove, Pennsylvania.
Police followed the drugs arrests by going to the shelter near Pine Grove. Investigators found cats and other animals that were dead, dying or starving. They found pallets filled with donated cat food, and they accuse Oxenrider of selling that cat food.
Oxenrider will also face attempted bribery charges after allegedly offering a Pine Grove borough police officer $500 to let him out of the traffic stop, while Justiniano will face animal cruelty charges after abandoning the felines for months, according to the Schuylkill County District Attorney's office.
Police said the home was littered with hypodermic needles and syringes while cocaine, methamphetamine, marijuana and other drugs were found in both the house and a nearby hotel room Justiniano and Oxenrider were renting.
Also, Justiniano and Oxenrider could face federal fraud charges for using shelter donations to buy drugs, according to Hall.
On her way into court, Justiniano spoke with Newswatch 16. "I believe the media has been misleading and I have no other comment," she said. She then added, "I'll let my past actions speak for themselves."
While unconfirmed, Hall said stories have been circulating that out-of-state donors may have given huge sums -- in one case, $25,000 -- to Cats With No Name over the past several years.
Hall said the shelter had once been a reputable, legitimate animal-care facility. However, Justiniano and Oxenrider allegedly began using donation money to buy drugs rather than food or medical supplies for the felines, according to police.
Police also said allege couple sold crates of cat food to raise drug money.
SPCA workers said it appeared several cats had resorted to eating a decaying deer carcass after not being properly fed for weeks. Thirteen cats have been euthanized and at least five cats died from starvation or extreme temperatures, SPCA workers said.
A group from the SPCA helped police build the cruelty case against Justiniano and Oxenrider.
"We cannot find any excuse for this to happen," said Beth Hall of Deer Lake. "In my opinion, it was like a kitty concentration camp - frozen cats, dead cats, starving cats."
"It blows my mind!" echoed Kristen Overkott of Atlas. "She was fully aware of what was going on and she had all the proper materials - medications, food, everything - to keep these cats healthy, and just seemed to refuse to do so."
Justiniano and Oxenrider remain in Schuylkill County Prison in lieu of $25,000 bail. A hearing on the cruelty cases will be held next month in Schuylkill County. Justiniano and Oxenrider face fines and jail time if convicted.
Sources:
http://individual.com/story.php?story=95737375
http://www.wnep.com/wnep-schyl-cited-for-animal-abuse,0,2078910.story
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Update on Oklahoma teens who beat their two pet cats and posted video on youtube
Two Lawton area teens accused of beating a cat and posting it on YouTube over the weekend will be going through the juvenile justice process in Oklahoma. The 14 and 16-year-old brothers each face two charges of animal cruelty after law enforcement was directed to two videos on Sunday that showed the beating and torture of the grey cat named Dusty, and each video carries separate charges.
During their investigation, the Comanche County Sheriff's Department discovered a third abuse video that shows the beating of a black and white cat - also at a teens' home. The sheriff's department rescued that cat today.
The videos uploaded to YouTube show two separate incidents of animal abuse involving the same cat, and the teens face separate charges for each video. "We filed two counts of animal cruelty on each of the two teenagers today," said Comanche County District Attorney Robert Schulte. "They will be referred to the juvenile court system. We'll expect them to make their appearance early this week before the juvenile judge."
The teenagers have a right to a jury trial, and if they waive that, a judge will decide their fate. Until the two suspects are 18-years-old they are considered juveniles and the court records will be sealed. However, Schulte says he knows there is a lot of public concern over the case, and the court is taking it seriously. "I can tell you that our juvenile judge is a long-standing judge, very conservative, very well thought of, very well respected judge," he said. "He will do what he believes is necessary, and feels best in this case as it goes through the system."
The courts have ensured that the pets will not be abused again. Dusty was removed from the home on Sunday, and the second cat was removed Tuesday. "They have been treated by local veterinarians, they are doing well," said Schulte. "They will not go back into the home, and they are expected to be adopted out into a good home in the next few days."
Schulte says he did not know what punishment the boys may face if found guilty, but said the penalties for a juvenile conviction could include psychological counseling, court monitoring until they turn 18, community service to provide restitution for treatment of animals, and/or placement in court custody.
pet-abuse.com
During their investigation, the Comanche County Sheriff's Department discovered a third abuse video that shows the beating of a black and white cat - also at a teens' home. The sheriff's department rescued that cat today.
The videos uploaded to YouTube show two separate incidents of animal abuse involving the same cat, and the teens face separate charges for each video. "We filed two counts of animal cruelty on each of the two teenagers today," said Comanche County District Attorney Robert Schulte. "They will be referred to the juvenile court system. We'll expect them to make their appearance early this week before the juvenile judge."
The teenagers have a right to a jury trial, and if they waive that, a judge will decide their fate. Until the two suspects are 18-years-old they are considered juveniles and the court records will be sealed. However, Schulte says he knows there is a lot of public concern over the case, and the court is taking it seriously. "I can tell you that our juvenile judge is a long-standing judge, very conservative, very well thought of, very well respected judge," he said. "He will do what he believes is necessary, and feels best in this case as it goes through the system."
The courts have ensured that the pets will not be abused again. Dusty was removed from the home on Sunday, and the second cat was removed Tuesday. "They have been treated by local veterinarians, they are doing well," said Schulte. "They will not go back into the home, and they are expected to be adopted out into a good home in the next few days."
Schulte says he did not know what punishment the boys may face if found guilty, but said the penalties for a juvenile conviction could include psychological counseling, court monitoring until they turn 18, community service to provide restitution for treatment of animals, and/or placement in court custody.
pet-abuse.com
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Low Cost Declawing
You will actually not find any vet who will do "low cost" declawing. There are a few reasons for this: 1. It is NOT medically necessary. 2. It does NOT better the health of your cat. 3. It is an amputation and many vets won't even perform the procedure because they feel it is unethical.
Declawing is uncommon outside the United States. It is banned in England, Scotland, Wales, France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Norway, Sweden, Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Ireland, Denmark, Finland, Slovenia, Portugal, Spain, Brazil, Australia and New Zealand. In the United Kingdom, it is actually illegal and under their law is considered animal cruelty! Source: declawing.com
As you can see below, the incision goes beyond just the claw. Not only is the bone removed, but so are ligaments, tendons and nerves. This is a painful surgery that requires recovery time. This human equivalent is to break your last knuckle and cut off the tips of your fingers. Sounds like a good deal, huh? Try living a normal life without the ends of your fingers.
You can believe all of the nuts out there who defend declawing if you want-it's your cat. My childhood cat was declawed when I was about 9. Of course, I did not have the opinions I have now and I had no qualms about him getting declawed. My mother made the decision and he actually had no problems with the procedure itself except for bloody bandages for a few days. However, he did have one problem because of being declawed. He was at my grandmother's house (in the country) while we were on vacation when I was about 11 and he was attacked by two feral cats when he slipped out of the door. From that attack, he received about a 2 inch long, 1 inch deep gash on his back. If he had claws, he probably would have felt confident enough to fight them back and could have done some damage to them. Without his claws, it seems that he just tried to run away and they pounced on him.
That is one of the biggest reasons people (like me) oppose declawing. We are taking away one of the only defenses a cat has to protect itself!
If you want to declaw your cat, be prepared to deal with the consequences! When people declaw their cat, they can have issues such as litter box aversion (going outside the litter box), they can lose the ability to climb, jump or keep their balance, their behavior and demeanor may change due to their perceived vulnerability. Your cat may live in pain because as cat owners we know that cats often hide pain or illness. Having no claws and no bone in their foot drastically changes the design of their foot. They are designed to run, jump, climb and be very agile. Without those bones, they might not be able to do those things as well as they should.
There is no way to tell how a cat will react to a declawing procedure but why (if you love your cat) would you gamble with their health both mentally and physically?!?! It may end up just fine, or you may bring your happy, friendly cat to the vet and live the rest of your life with a scared, unpredictable ball of fur in the corner who doesn't use the litter box! What would you do then? Bring it to the shelter to be killed-OF COURSE!!!!
I see it all the time. People bring cats to the shelter (where we DO NOT KILL THEM but most of the time the people do not know that when they bring their cat in) and they say they have behavior problems and yes, they declawed them. Hmm...and we ask, well when did the behavior problems start? (Usually after declawing, or made worse with declawing) What can we do to help you with your cat? Can we help correct the behavior so you can bring them back home with you? Nope. They want to leave the cat with us and get a new one. At least they won't be killed with us.
People declaw cats for convenience. Would you take your child to the doctor to have the last knuckle broken and the ends of their fingers cut off because they are being destructive? OF COURSE NOT! How would they live their lives normally? They are supposed to have the ends of their fingers!!
So, why would you even consider it with an animal that uses those "fingers" for protection!?
Before you have a cat declawed, consider how painful the procedure is and try alternatives. There are several: (1) Learn to clip your cat's nails , (2) give Soft Paws a try, (3) supply lots of tall and STURDY scratching posts and encourage their usage and discourage scratching anywhere else. Cats want their scratching posts to be sturdy and not move when they scratch on them. I find that most cats prefer sisal rope scratching posts (click here for one I have personally that my cats love and does not move when they scratch on it) and the cardboard ones that lay on the floor (click here for an example) but definitely shop around for one that your cat likes most.
References:
http://www.askthecatdoctor.com/declawingcats.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onychectomy#United_Kingdom
http://www.catscratching.com/
http://www.softpaws.com/
Declawing is uncommon outside the United States. It is banned in England, Scotland, Wales, France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Norway, Sweden, Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Ireland, Denmark, Finland, Slovenia, Portugal, Spain, Brazil, Australia and New Zealand. In the United Kingdom, it is actually illegal and under their law is considered animal cruelty! Source: declawing.com
As you can see below, the incision goes beyond just the claw. Not only is the bone removed, but so are ligaments, tendons and nerves. This is a painful surgery that requires recovery time. This human equivalent is to break your last knuckle and cut off the tips of your fingers. Sounds like a good deal, huh? Try living a normal life without the ends of your fingers.
You can believe all of the nuts out there who defend declawing if you want-it's your cat. My childhood cat was declawed when I was about 9. Of course, I did not have the opinions I have now and I had no qualms about him getting declawed. My mother made the decision and he actually had no problems with the procedure itself except for bloody bandages for a few days. However, he did have one problem because of being declawed. He was at my grandmother's house (in the country) while we were on vacation when I was about 11 and he was attacked by two feral cats when he slipped out of the door. From that attack, he received about a 2 inch long, 1 inch deep gash on his back. If he had claws, he probably would have felt confident enough to fight them back and could have done some damage to them. Without his claws, it seems that he just tried to run away and they pounced on him.
That is one of the biggest reasons people (like me) oppose declawing. We are taking away one of the only defenses a cat has to protect itself!
If you want to declaw your cat, be prepared to deal with the consequences! When people declaw their cat, they can have issues such as litter box aversion (going outside the litter box), they can lose the ability to climb, jump or keep their balance, their behavior and demeanor may change due to their perceived vulnerability. Your cat may live in pain because as cat owners we know that cats often hide pain or illness. Having no claws and no bone in their foot drastically changes the design of their foot. They are designed to run, jump, climb and be very agile. Without those bones, they might not be able to do those things as well as they should.
There is no way to tell how a cat will react to a declawing procedure but why (if you love your cat) would you gamble with their health both mentally and physically?!?! It may end up just fine, or you may bring your happy, friendly cat to the vet and live the rest of your life with a scared, unpredictable ball of fur in the corner who doesn't use the litter box! What would you do then? Bring it to the shelter to be killed-OF COURSE!!!!
I see it all the time. People bring cats to the shelter (where we DO NOT KILL THEM but most of the time the people do not know that when they bring their cat in) and they say they have behavior problems and yes, they declawed them. Hmm...and we ask, well when did the behavior problems start? (Usually after declawing, or made worse with declawing) What can we do to help you with your cat? Can we help correct the behavior so you can bring them back home with you? Nope. They want to leave the cat with us and get a new one. At least they won't be killed with us.
People declaw cats for convenience. Would you take your child to the doctor to have the last knuckle broken and the ends of their fingers cut off because they are being destructive? OF COURSE NOT! How would they live their lives normally? They are supposed to have the ends of their fingers!!
So, why would you even consider it with an animal that uses those "fingers" for protection!?
Before you have a cat declawed, consider how painful the procedure is and try alternatives. There are several: (1) Learn to clip your cat's nails , (2) give Soft Paws a try, (3) supply lots of tall and STURDY scratching posts and encourage their usage and discourage scratching anywhere else. Cats want their scratching posts to be sturdy and not move when they scratch on them. I find that most cats prefer sisal rope scratching posts (click here for one I have personally that my cats love and does not move when they scratch on it) and the cardboard ones that lay on the floor (click here for an example) but definitely shop around for one that your cat likes most.
References:
http://www.askthecatdoctor.com/declawingcats.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onychectomy#United_Kingdom
http://www.catscratching.com/
http://www.softpaws.com/
Teenagers in Oklahoma video taped themselves beating a cat and posted it on Youtube
An animal abuse story that has sparked outrage across the country has Comanche County Sheriff Kenny Stradley saying that two local boys are responsible. The teen was filmed beating and torturing a cat, and uploaded it to YouTube over the weekend. It was viewed about 30,000 times.
Internet observers along with information from popular websites such as YouTube, Reddit, Digg, Facebook and Myspace, came up with pictures posted by a teen in Lawton that related to parts of the video. That's when 7News and local authorities began receiving calls. "At this time, it appears that it is here in Lawton. We re just at the beginning of this, but it s looking like it is from Comanche County," said Stradley.
The horrifying day may be over for the cat, but it is just getting started for its abusers. "We'll put it together and take it to the D.A. It will be up to the D.A. whether or not he files charges or not. Our job is to put the investigation together as a case and take it to the DA and that's what we'll do," said Stradley.
Sheriff Kenny Stradley says the cat has been taken to a local veterinarian and that investigators have questioned two boys.
The abusers names are not being released because they are minors.
What I want to know is who are the sick people, all 30,000 of them who would watch this video!?!?! This is just disgusting!
Contact Sheriff Kenny Stradley:
Comanche County Sheriff's Department
Comanche County Courthouse
315 SW 5th Street
Room 102
Lawton, Oklahoma 73501
580.353.4280
(I cannot find an email address for the Sheriff)
http://www.kswo.com/Global/story.asp?S=9852277
http://www.pet-abuse.com/cases/15258/OK/US/
Internet observers along with information from popular websites such as YouTube, Reddit, Digg, Facebook and Myspace, came up with pictures posted by a teen in Lawton that related to parts of the video. That's when 7News and local authorities began receiving calls. "At this time, it appears that it is here in Lawton. We re just at the beginning of this, but it s looking like it is from Comanche County," said Stradley.
The horrifying day may be over for the cat, but it is just getting started for its abusers. "We'll put it together and take it to the D.A. It will be up to the D.A. whether or not he files charges or not. Our job is to put the investigation together as a case and take it to the DA and that's what we'll do," said Stradley.
Sheriff Kenny Stradley says the cat has been taken to a local veterinarian and that investigators have questioned two boys.
The abusers names are not being released because they are minors.
What I want to know is who are the sick people, all 30,000 of them who would watch this video!?!?! This is just disgusting!
Contact Sheriff Kenny Stradley:
Comanche County Sheriff's Department
Comanche County Courthouse
315 SW 5th Street
Room 102
Lawton, Oklahoma 73501
580.353.4280
(I cannot find an email address for the Sheriff)
http://www.kswo.com/Global/story.asp?S=9852277
http://www.pet-abuse.com/cases/15258/OK/US/
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Animal control officer shot mother cat and her two kittens-claiming self defense!
Lackawanna animal-control officer Frederick S. Grasso finally got his day in court Monday, testifying that he shot and killed three cats last June only after they had hissed and spat at him from the basement of a Lackawanna apartment complex."I opened the door, I took two steps downstairs, and three cats - the mother and two kittens - came at me," Grasso testified at his daylong trial on two misdemeanor charges. "They were all hissing and spitting at me."
Grasso then went back to his vehicle and grabbed his rifle.
"At that point, the safest means to dispose of those cats was to shoot them," Grasso told West Seneca Town Justice Richard B. Scott.
The case was transferred to West Seneca because it had generated so much comment and publicity in Lackawanna.
Asked later by defense attorney Arcangelo J. Petricca whether he had any alternative to shooting the cats, Grasso replied: "No, I don't believe there was any alternative. There was no safe way to remove those cats."
The nonjury trial also heard testimony from six prosecution witnesses and three defense witnesses. After the daylong proceeding, Scott reserved decision until Feb. 20.
The conflicting testimony presented two widely varying accounts of the three cats that were shot June 10 on Eagan Drive.
Prosecution witnesses, including neighbors and officials of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, portrayed the slain cats and four surviving kittens from the same family as docile, friendly animals that purred and even jumped onto neighbors' laps.
Barbara S. Carr, executive director of the Erie County SPCA, examined the four surviving kittens about two weeks after the shootings.
"They were perfectly normal kittens," Carr told the court. "They were friendly, purring, liked to be touched and didn't struggle to get away."
Michael P. Felicetta, an Erie County assistant district attorney, asked Patricia Murtha, a neighbor from Eagan Drive in Lackawanna, whether the mother cat was aggressive.
"No way, no way," she replied. "Any time she came over, she craved attention."
Several other witnesses provided similar descriptions of the cats' behavior.
"[Grasso] would have you believe that the mother and her two kittens turned evil, turned nasty [that day]," Felicetta said in his closing statement.
During the trial, Scott viewed a DVD shot by SPCA Peace Officer Charles Braun about two weeks after the shootings and depicting the four surviving kittens as very playful.
"This has absolutely nothing to do with June 10," Petricca objected. "It doesn't help evaluate the situation on June 10. . . . It's irrelevant."
Much of the prosecution testimony earlier in the day focused on witnesses who had heard Grasso admit the shootings. But that testimony became moot later in the trial, when Grasso admitted to having fired the three fatal shots.
Earlier, defense witness Vera Bink, the rental manager for the Eagan Drive apartment complex, told the court about the phone call she made to Grasso after having been confronted by the mother cat in the basement.
"I told him on the phone, 'Be careful. Take caution. . . . The female cat hissed at me, and she was ready to charge the stairs,' " Bink said.
"She was afraid to enter her basement, and she feared for the safety of her tenants," Grasso testified about Bink.
Grasso faces two unclassified misdemeanor charges under the state Agriculture and Markets Law, one for cruelty to animals, the other for euthanizing a dog or cat by gunshot.
The law on which the second charge is based states that no one may euthanize a dog or cat by gunshot, except as an emergency procedure for a "dangerous dog" or a severely injured dog or cat.
As Felicetta pointed out, the statute doesn't talk about a "dangerous cat," and there's no evidence or testimony that any of the cats here were severely injured.
But Petricca, in his opening statement, argued that the euthanasia charge should be dismissed.
"This is not a euthanasia case, your honor," he said. "This is not a Kevorkian-type killing."
BuffaloNews.com Feb. 10, 2009
I want to know why this ACO didn't just trap them? If he was going to kill them anyway, wouldn't the more humane act be trapping them and "humanely" euthanizing them? I very rarely agree that euthanasia is the best choice (and I don't agree in this case) but generally cats who hiss once are deemed "aggressive" and are killed by people like this.
Also, isn't there a protocol for this sort of thing? They were enclosed in a basement and were not an immediate threat to anyone or any animal outside the basement. They need to have someone KNOWLEDGEABLE about cat behavior working with animals. A cat hissing, especially a mother cat, is just trying to protect themselves and their kittens. It is completely normal for a cat to hiss at a strange person coming into their area. Just because she hissed doesn't mean she is aggressive. Also, if she did end up being feral, he should have trapped her and gotten her and her kittens (if they were old enough) spayed or neutered.
It's ridiculous that he just took it upon himself to discharge a shotgun in a residential area and shoot these kittens after a FIVE MINUTE interaction with them-not even 5 minutes, he said himself that he took two steps into the basement, then went to get his rifle.
There are a lot of people in the case claiming that the kittens and mother were/are friendly. 4 kittens survived and were not shot. The temperament of the cats doesn't really matter to me that much. The point is that they were living beings and the ACO took it upon himself to judge their temperament and decided they were dangerous and shot and killed them in a minute or two.
This guy needs to be fired and convicted of animal cruelty.
If you write to the judge (which I hope you will), feel free to use anything I wrote above.
He is in court Feb. 20, 2009.
Judge Richard B. Scott
West Seneca Town Court
1250 Union Road
West Seneca, NY 14224
West Seneca Town Court
1250 Union Road
West Seneca, NY 14224
Phone: 716.558.3247
Fax: 716.674.0518
Fax: 716.674.0518
(Grasso's Attorney) City Attorney, Arc Petricca cityattorney@ci.lackawanna.ny.us
716.827.6479
716.827.6479
Read more on pet-abuse.com.
Please sign the petition regarding this case.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Crash course in diabetes
Now that I am taking care of Jonathon, I have been reading a lot about diabetes. This is a very complex disease. He also has FIV but I don't think that has much to do with the diabetes. His blood sugar is down in the low 100's so I called the vet and asked what I should do. I am now giving him 2 units of insulin instead of 3.
I feel anxious treating him sometimes because I realize the seriousness of this disease. I am trying to find the answer to this question: How and why does the blood glucose change? Why is it 300 then lowers to 200? How does it increase or decrease? What influences it? Just food? I have looked online and I cannot find this answer. I would like to see some kind of animation or picture showing me how it changes. I feel that if I learn all about this, I can help him better.
If you know of some sites that will help me with this answer specifically or if you take care of a diabetic cat yourself, please let me know. I would really appreciate it!
I feel anxious treating him sometimes because I realize the seriousness of this disease. I am trying to find the answer to this question: How and why does the blood glucose change? Why is it 300 then lowers to 200? How does it increase or decrease? What influences it? Just food? I have looked online and I cannot find this answer. I would like to see some kind of animation or picture showing me how it changes. I feel that if I learn all about this, I can help him better.
If you know of some sites that will help me with this answer specifically or if you take care of a diabetic cat yourself, please let me know. I would really appreciate it!
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Jonathon, my diabetic foster cat
This is Jonathon, my newest foster cat who has diabetes and FIV. I have had him since Tuesday and it was a rough couple of days. I am now starting to get the hang of it, though. He is very patient and doesn't complain when I have to prick his ear or give him an injection. I test his blood sugar and give him an insulin injection twice a day. That might change as he gets regulated. He is a very sweet boy and I am happy to be able to take care of him.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
My top 10 favorite animal movies...
I have always loved movies telling stories about animals. Here is a list of my 10 favorite animal movies, in no particular order.
- March of the Penguins
- Charlotte's Web (1973) (animated)
- Dumbo (animated)
- Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey(1993)
- Lady and the Tramp (animated)
- The Bee Movie (animated)
- The Lion King (animated)
- The Adventures of Milo and Otis
- 101 Dalmatians (1996)
- Bambi (animated)
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