Distraught man says police officer who shot his lost cat should be fired

Tom Newhart from North Catasauqua, Pennsylvania, is grief-stricken after Sugar, the six-year-old cat, he and his wife rescued at birth, was killed a week ago last Sunday just hours after escaping from their home. "It's like one of your children, you raised them, bottle fed them," he said through tears.



"I found the cat sitting right here," said Mike Lienert in his yard. Lienert, a neighbour, found Sugar late that Sunday night and said the cat looked injured. He called North Catasauqua Police for help. "First thing at the door he said it's not politically correct but if injured we will put it down," Lienert said. He said a short time later the officer shot the cat near his pool then telling Lienert he'd have to clean up the mess.



He said aside from some poking and prodding, the officer never tried to catch the cat. Lienert went on to say aside from scared hissing, the cat wasn't aggressive. After recovering Sugar's body Newhart had her inspected by a vet. "No lacerations, no blood, other than neck wound on body. " Newhart said, while showing his vet's report. In a statement, the borough said it's in the process of gathering information and conducting a review and investigation of what took place.


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After this process is complete, the borough will be taking the necessary and appropriate steps. For Newhart that means having the officer fired and the chief step down. "Where was the effort made to help? Here they are to serve and protect, not to be judge, jury and executioner on someone's lost cat?" he said. Nearby boroughs said animal policy is to only shoot when an animal is attacking someone or a threat to the area, not if it is injured. An area shelter owner said the situation could fall under the category of animal cruelty if the officer is found to have done something wrong.

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