One of the things I admire about the pet blogging community is how we stand up to injustice when we see it. Unfortunately it happens every single day. There have been many posts about Breed Specific Legislation and as a community we are quick to voice our displeasure of the injustice and discrimination.
Tuesday night I saw a post from our friend and animal rescue advocate Dorian from Your Daily Cute. Dorian was quite upset, and rightly so. She posted a story about a so-called humane officer in the town of North Ridge, OH. I say so-call human officer because what this officer did was shoot five feral kittens. It is a disgusting story and here is the clickable headline: North Ridgeville humane officer shoots five kittens outside house with residents nearby. The officers name is Barry Accorti. The response was immediate and it was outrage. I agree.
Here is a quote from the news story:
“NRPD recognizes the concerns of those who believe feral cats should not be killed for simply trying to survive but also acknowledges the risks associated with these animals and the need to manage feral cats. Research and other animal organizations accept shooting as an acceptable means of euthanasia,” the North Ridgeville Police Department said.
Police Chief Mike Freeman said that Accorti’s actions were appropriate and he will not be disciplined for the incident. He also said they will work with humane officers about improving communications with the public.”
Of course there was outrage, but apparently in North Ridge, OH they just don’t get it. There’s a popular saying “You Can’t Fix Stupid”. Well, maybe you can’t fix stupid, but you can sure stand up to it and voice your displeasure. Through the power of social media, the North Ridge Police Department was forced to shut down their Facebook Page. What does that tell you, and they still don’t get it. If you would like to voice your displeasure, there is a Contact Us page: HERE and you can select to direct your message to the mayor. If you choose to do so, please be polite and non-threatening as that would diminish all that we stand for in this fight.
I am thankful that we all stand up to this kind of injustice and we need to take this horrible negative and turn into a positive for the humane treatment of animals everywhere.
Remember, adopt cats, we deserve it!!!!! More Forever Homes More Often! Purrrrr! Zip! Later!
Thank you for the link to contact the mayor. Our head peep saw that story yesterday from another source but didn’t have the contact information. Outrageous!
I saw our picture on your blog recently you look great…Any person who shoots feral cats is just plain in my opinion NUTS and has a EVIL disposition..Those cats were not hurting that fellow whatsoever…Who made him GOD? and why did he do that to those helpless animals?????????? I get so disgusted when human beings treat animals like crap, yes I said it indeedy!!!!!!!!!! Love your blog, you look great Brian it must be cause you are wonderful human being who loves critters great and small and you do what you can to save all animals and your wife must… Read more »
I meant to say I saw YOUR PICTURE on your blog recently!
I heard about that horrible story and it makes me soooooooooooo mad. Good thing I don’t live up there. I did write a letter or whatever it is to the Mayor. It just all makes me so sad. Wish we could do more. Thanks for all the links.
That is just barbaric, It is so upsetting to hear stories like this. xxx
Mollie and Alfie
I am speechless – that is beyond horrible… thanks for sharing….
Just terrible and very upsetting. Yes we just have to stand up and speak up. Golden Thanks for sharing. Lots of Golden Woofs, Sugar
What a terrible story. It made me so upset and sad. Thank you for sharing the story and the link.
That is awful. We too our speechless. Have a terrific Thursday.
Best wishes Molly
I think you hit the nail on the head, “You can’t fix stupid” disgusting indeed.
It makes you wonder why that stupid man behaves so cruelly – we wish those cats could turn the tables on him and shoot him.
Luv Hannah and Lucy xx xx
Calm was our response. I kinda cheated though and sent it to the council and the mayor. Personally I find his actions deliberately inhumane. Lethal force is only a option when the officers life or anothers life is at risk. What were the kittens going to do.. smother them in cuddles?
…” shooting as an acceptable means of euthanasia,” – I can’t believe this – that’s horrible and sometimes I’m scary about the future.
This sort of thing just makes us ill. It is a very good thing so many will stand up and say that is wrong. We will use the link you provided, thank you.
Hugs to you all.
I wish I hadn’t seen this. It’s beyond reprehensible and beyond disgusting. Horrific.
I was scanning our Canadian news headlines this AM and saw that a man who killed a dog (and I didn’t read how, but presumably in some grisly manner) got all of 7 days in jail.
It sickens me beyond words, makes me ashamed to be a human.
Ugh – makes us sorry to live in Ohio. BTW – would love to know what “research and animal organizations” told him it was ok to shoot feral cats. morons….. oh – and he shot them in front of KIDS!! there is a lesson the future generation needs to learn….. the more people are stupid, the more we are glad we are cats!
Gasp – I had not heard about it and it makes me so sick and MAD. You can bet I’ll go over to the link and leave a message.
This is just SICK! No wonder the world is in the condition it’s in.
dood….furst off thanx for de link…hope it helps… mayor over see’s police chief, police chief over see’s thiz bass turd….N did ya happen to see the “related storeez” in the same column….damn glad we dont live in north ridgeville; elyria, ohio …we seer ee iz lee knead ta chillax heer a minit bee for we contact em; takin yur advice bout bein polite…..THATZ gonna bee hard……
I read about this and it made me sick to my stomach. Made the peep sick, too. What a cowardly and shameful act on the part of this… this… this Barry guy.
I sent a letter to the Mayor and council telling ’em just what I thought. Thank you so much for the link.
Purrs,
Nissy
Oh my goodness. This is so awful and so wrong. So so wrong.
Oh Brian our hearts are aching…..
Hugs madi and mom
I’m sitting here speechless and numb…and if you know me by now, that’s a first for me!
OMG!! If this horrid man can stand flat-footed, aim a gun and shoot to kill ….OMG! Those innocent babies…that heartless yellow coward…I’m done before I explode….
It is so horrible and makes me so terribly sad to hear of this. Who is responsible for there being feral cats in the first place. Why oh why can’t humans spay and neuter. I just cannot bear to think of these poor five innocent kittens having been shot to death.
Even worse to think that this officer won’t be disciplined. Absolutely disgusting!
I read this story yesterday, and to be quite honest, I was in disbelief. I really just couldn’t believe that a supposed humane officer could/would shoot five kittens… at a family’s home, no less. Of course we’re outraged! Research and other animal organizations accept shooting as an acceptable means of euthanasia,” the North Ridgeville Police Department said. Really? Just exactly which animal organizations say that shooting kittens is okay? Do tell. You’re right, we do speak up about injustices… unfortunately, our voices often fall on deaf ears. I’ve never encountered a single person who thinks puppy mills are okay… and… Read more »
Any human who would shoot kittens is just plain rotten. My human had lots of HBO words over this story.
Oh, that makes me sad and MAD at the same time. Horrible!
Disgusted…
Oh my…. it´s so terrible!!!! =((((
I commented earlier but I’m back… Just thought you might like to know that someone has started a petition: https://www.causes.com/actions/1754698-fire-north-ridgeville-humane-officer-barry-accorti-for-killing-kittens-in-front-of-children
Thanks for the links. I’d heard about the shameful story last week.
No discipline – acceptable –totally disgusting.
It is appalling. What makes it even more appalling is I am quite familiar with North Ridgeville. It is about 20 minutes away from downtown Cleveland, my ex’s mother used to live there. Knowing the type of people (not all, but some) that reside in that community it sickens me but I am sad to say it doesn’t surprise me. It is horrific.
It is appalling! I am so saddened by that barbaric act.
It is quite saddening to see stories like this… what if children has been around to see that? What is that going to teach them 🙁 There are better ways to humanely euthanize an animal if deemed necessary… my mother told me another disturbing story last night involving antifreeze… *sigh* don’t understand why people do stuff like this.
Really very upset to know about that.
That is appalling. We had something like this in Hempstead, long Island. An animal control woman tortured cat on video tape before she killed it. There was a total outcry and I believe she was reassigned.
That story made us sick, Brian. What is wrong with some humans????
So sad. ::bows head:: Purring for these people to understand what they are doing is soooooo wrong.
….”the risks associated with these animals and the need to manage feral cats. Research and other animal organizations accept shooting as an acceptable means of euthanasia,” Risks, what risks are those? That is a common excuse used by those who do not want to take the time to understand feral cats. A managed feral colony poses no risks to anyone. And as to the so called acceptable means of euthanasia I don’t know of any animal organizations that would endorse such a thing. Nice to meet you Brian. Sorry for our Mama’s outburst. She works with a group that does… Read more »
Since when is shooting an “acceptable form of euthanasia?!?!?!” Oh my God.
Those kittens weren’t hurting anybody!!
I don’t even know what to say…..
I live in a rural area of the Ozarks and I’m a feeder of feral cats. When I can trap them, I do and then have them spayed or neutered. That’s rare. (When I say feral, I mean feral.) When the nearest Humane Society was trying to get our county to chip in some operating costs, the county commissioners voiced approval to switching to shooting as the euthanasia method. “It would be so much cheaper.” Not uncommon for local law enforcement to tie stray dogs to any nearby fence and then shoot them out here in the county. I guess… Read more »
How can anyone with a heart do such a thing! Just horrible!
It would appear from recent news articles that no disciplinary action has been taken against officer Accorti of the North Ridge Police Department, who apparently shot and killed several feral kittens in front of minor children. Regardless of Ohio’s statute indicates that this is domestic violence, this IS a violent act conducted in front of minor children who are reported to have began screaming when this event occurred. If Officer Accorti was unable or unwilling to recognize the screams as evidence of fear and trauma, I wonder at his capability to protect citizens, and further question whether the North ridge… Read more »
Total unacceptable behaviour I have voiced my displeasure to this Mayor as well maybe if they realize that people across the world are disgusted by this they will do something about it,xx Speedy’s mum
There are no words!
What a monster?! The whole situation is wrong but how could that man do that to a defenceless animal? He is a sick sick monster. I would hope he never works somewhere with animals again and is banned from keeping them. If he was doing his job they could have taken them to the vet and put them down humanely. Instead they suffered needlessly watching their siblings be murdered.
Appalling
Nibbles, Nutty, Buddy & Basil
xxxx
Dad added his voice to those HUMANS who feel this was simply Barbaric.
Thanks Brian for keeping us informed.
I submitted a very respectful comment to the Mayor and Council. I doubt it will do any good, but I wanted to have a go at being “respectful” in the face of such inhumane action
Thanks for the link. Mom has sent an appropriate “complaint” about what took place in Ohio. Purrs and hugs, Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth and Calista Josette