A stray cat is recovering after being shot by a police officer for suspicion of rabies, The Portland Press Herald reported September 4. Is this an overreaction or a sensible precaution? Similar events have happened before. Also see: police killing cats.
Clark (named after Clark Kent, Superman’s alter ego) was shot August 20 by a Gorham (Maine) Police officer after he was suspected of having rabies. Clark had bitten or scratched a 7-year-old girl on Maple Ridge Road. The girl’s father reported the cat walked with a limp, and he “believed” Clark was rabid.
Clark didn’t like being captured, and allegedly attempted to bite an animal control officer during an unsuccessful attempt to trap him. Clark was shot by Gorham Police with a 16-gauze shotgun, after the decision was made between the officer and animal control that the best way to stop the threat of rabies was to kill the cat. Clark disappeared into the woods.
A thorough search was conducted, with no sign of the injured cat. Each day of searching showed no sign of the injured cat. The police officer who shot Clark thought he’d missed his target. Four days later, Clark was captured when he showed up in the yard of Debbie Webb, who had been feeding the cat for three years.
According to Dr. Sheila Pinette, director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, state law requires the capture of a suspected rabid animal. Once caught, the animal must be taken to a vet or animal shelter for observation.
Now recovering at a Westbrook shelter, Clark has been declared rabies free. Everyone is hoping he can recovere from the injuries without surgery. The pellets shattered one bone in each of his front paws. The police department is paying for treatment, and an orthopedic surgeon is monitoring Clark. So far the cat is adjusting well to living indoors.
The vet believes Clark to be between 5 and 8 years old, and describe the friendly cat as a “love bug.”
Lt. Chris Sanborn said the police officer and the animal control officer remain on active duty, pending an investigation. Their names aren’t being released at this time. Sanborn says his officers followed state protocol in their attempt to trap a possibly rabid cat. He said he wasn’t sure what the protocol is when the cat can’t be captured.
Jeana Roth, community relations manager for the shelter stated
“This is not a typical way for a cat to be brought to us. We never want to see a situation like this again.”
Humane Society of the United States senior law enforcement officer Eric Sakach, said he has never in his 38-year career heard of a situation in which a police officer shot a domestic cat suspected of having rabies.
Debbie is concerned about her stray kitty, and finds it difficult to believe police would hunt down and shoot such a sweet cat in a yard where he felt safe. When hearing Clark had been shot then captured, she was terrified he would be euthanized.
Rabies is rare in Maine. There have only been eight confirmed cases in cats since January 2010. Residents are cautioned against feeding stray animals of any kind.
No word yet on whether Debbie will officially adopt Clark and turn him into an inside cat, but we can all hope she cares enough to do that for this sweet boy.
Oh, i didn’t know about that Dee. Subdomains. Yikes! Well, i had already posted it here. Michael knows cause i replied to his comment. He can still do that you think? Or what shall i do? =(
Hey Elisa, i just posted it on this story. When you are able, please read and sign the petition. If you can share, please do. Many thanks. (smile)
Dee, I just posted it here on this story. When you can, please share this and sign the petition. Many thanks.
Thank you so much Michael for doing this. Firstly, let me say that CATS are the bomb!! I love my boy immensely! I want to say that you guys have been a dynamic audience and you deserve to give yourselves a round of applause — LETS GO!!
Sadly, while this is a CAT site for all our CAT friends, a recent tragedy in Florida requires our attention immediately. A demented evil pet sitter, not aware of home surveillance, brutally murdered a helpless little dachshund. A petition is circulating to plead this trash gets the maximum at his sentencing. Please sign and have your friends and their friends sign the petition!! Perhaps with our healthy voices on paper, we can put this worthless scum where he belongs for a long while! And remember, let’s love our CATS!!!
Have you hugged your CAT today!! CATS rule!! Anyway, here is the link to the petition. The story is included. Near the end you will see where it says about signing the petition. Let’s go to work! =)
http://www.care2.com/causes/dog-sitter-caught-on-surveillance-video-beating-helpless-dachshund-to-death.html
Go to the top of this site where it says SUBDOMAINS, then general blogs. Ask Michael to make an article.
The whole thing about that little dog sickens me. I want him in jail right now!
Well Dee, that is a terrific idea! Could you send me a link maybe to the alternative site??? Then again, how about both? We need to get this out there soon. I was just as horrified as you when i found out about this. The worthless scum had no idea the household had a surveillance camera, and brutally killed this little dog, then buried it, and told the people he had ran off. What a scum excuse for human. Unfortunately, we have real live monsters in our mist.