Durham region police officer Beth Richardson has faced a police disciplinary hearing because she took a tiny kitten to a veterinarian because the kitten was in need of medical treatment and was living in the home of a woman who was on a ‘multi-day’ crystal meth session.
Beth was dispatched to the woman’s home presumably to deal with the woman but when she got there she found this tiny frightened kitten under a chair with runny eyes. There was no sign of food or water.
I’d have thought the police force would see Beth’s conduct as humane and decent in having the kitten checked out by a vet. It looks like an upper respiratory infection. A common condition in neglected cats.
Beth took the kitten to the vet at her own expense. The drug taking woman complained and Beth was forced to take the kitten back to the woman’s home. It seems that she made an allegation of theft against Beth.
Animal Justice (the source of this story) intervened. They attended the disciplinary hearing I am told. I don’t know the outcome.
The case is important because it sets a precedent which is not in the best interests of animal welfare. Other police officers may be reluctant to assist a pet under similar circumstances to the potential detriment of the pet’s wellbeing and health.
I hope to be able to report on the outcome of the hearing. Beth should be absolved of any wrong doing and praised for her humane and decent behavior. Any form of disciplinary action against her is clearly unwarranted. He work record should be clear.
It’s so rare that law enforcement is so kind, as opposed to blowing away an animal for no good reason, as we have all read about.
Yes, well said Dee. I had the same thought.
Pets are considered property. Thus the meth head was able to make a case for theft. No sigh of food or water usually has to be evident for 24 hours. Better a call to AC who might issue a meaningless warning to the meth head. Of course in the interim the kitten might well die of the Uri or thirst or hunger. Of course if the meth head had a certificate calling this kitten her ESA the officer could then be guilty of medical battery in some cases. Thus the saying no good deed…
Until the laws reflect the current feeling most of us have for our pets and in the same protect the pets right to humane treatment this is the kind of nonsense we’ll continue to see.
Yeah I can’t think of any good reason to harass this fine police officer. If they had one I’d think they’d state it. It’s clearly just the way you put it Michael… pointless at best. The owner and the department should both be praising her and encouraging this sort of thing, but they went in the wrong direction. I wonder if the officer was a man would it have gone the same way?
What kind of asinine idiots would take the side of an animal abuser!!!???!!!