Cats and Cops...

[uppityperson]

It looks like they are being reprimanded not for what they did (get the cats into shelter), but how they did it (file an animal-cruelty report).

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008560764_animalshelter26m.html

Officers who criticized cat care at shelter could be reprimanded

Three King County animal-control officers and a sergeant could face reprimands for filing an animal-cruelty report over cats that were kept in cages outside the Kent animal shelter on a night when the temperature dropped into the low 30s.

Soon after the report was filed on a Saturday morning in October, workers finished a plastic windbreak, stacked straw bales for insulation, brought in propane patio heaters and assigned a worker to watch for fires overnight. The last cats kept outdoors were moved to a newly installed modular building the first week of December. The cats were first placed outdoors because of overcrowding. County officials say that, although the unusual criminal complaint speeded work already planned to keep the cats warm, the animals weren't in danger, and weren't harmed.

(clip)

A criminal investigation ordered by animal-control managers concluded last month that cruelty didn't occur when about 70 cats were housed on a loading dock in cold weather because they "did not suffer unnecessarily" and there was no criminal negligence or intent to harm them.

That investigation was in response to a complaint written by Animal Control Officer Michael Cronin and signed by two other officers and a sergeant. Cronin's report said he saw cats outside the animal shelter Oct. 11, when there was "heavy frost" and temperatures were at or below freezing. "As an animal-control officer with 24 years experience," he wrote, "I find these conditions deplorable and unacceptable. ... "If our agency were investigating a citizen for a similar circumstance we would likely impound these animals for safekeeping and look to charge those responsible."...(more)

[Merlot]

1. "did not suffer unnecessarily" ??????? huh?

Why is ever necessary for rthem to suffer?

if cats were kept outside on night when temperatured dropped into the low 30's by by anyone, it would be consider cruelty.

If the report speeded up the work, then it was a good thing, IMO.

[Warpy]

2. Feral cats ordinarily live outside when the temperature is in the low 30s

However, their strategy to stay warm involves "clubbing," assembling into small groups and sleeping together. The only real cruelty here was isolating them in separate cages.

The other strategy is increasing their food intake.

My cats in New England used to go walkabout once in a while when the temperatures were near zero and there was a great deal of snow on the ground.

Cats aren't people and their fur coats allow them to adapt to a larger range of ambient temperature.

But yes, I'm glad work was sped up on the more temperate accommodations.