Wal-Mart Employees Charged With Shooting Cat On Manager's Orders

[Waitone]

http://www.wftv.com/news/4035165/detail.html

Wal-Mart Employees Charged With Shooting Cat On Manager's Orders

POSTED: 7:26 am EST December 30, 2004
UPDATED: 10:06 am EST December 30, 2004

EVANSVILLE, Ind. -- Two Wal-Mart employees who police say followed a manager's orders to shoot and kill a stray cat have been charged with federal animal cruelty.

The men, both assistant managers at the Supercenter, were arrested and released after a court appearance Wednesday. Christopher Anderson, 29, and Jeffrey Hardin, 21, told police the store's manager ordered them to get rid of the animal that was living in a storage trailer behind their store.

All managers potentially involved in the incident have been suspended without pay pending an internal investigation and could be fired, said Wal-Mart spokeswoman Sharon Weber.

"We were outraged when we learned of this incident. This kind of action is completely inconsistent with the way we do business," she said.

A truck driver who reported the incident said he saw store employees placing what he believed to be a dead animal in shrink wrap a day after he heard workers joking about shooting the cat.

Store manager Darrel Weitzel told police he had told some of his employees to get a gun and get rid of the cat after attempts to coax it from the trailer failed, according to a police report.

Anderson and Hardin were scheduled for a hearing Jan. 4.

 

[flatrock]

Animal cruelty? They didn't torture the cat. They put down a stray that refused to be evicted from their property.

I guess they should have called some shelter to come get the cat which would likely have to put it down anyway.

I'm willing to bet there will be an awfully lot of stray cats that will die in that area over the next couple months due to exposure and trouble finding food in the cold weather.

Too many people live too sheltered lives if we're considering shooting a cat on your property that won't leave animal cruelty.

 

[Pilgrim]

EVANSVILLE, Ind. -- Two Wal-Mart employees who police say followed a manager's orders to shoot and kill a stray cat have been charged with federal animal cruelty.

This took place on a federal reservation?

All managers potentially involved in the incident have been suspended without pay pending an internal investigation and could be fired, said Wal-Mart spokeswoman Sharon Weber.

"We were outraged when we learned of this incident. This kind of action is completely inconsistent with the way we do business," she said.

I suppose there is a section in the company's policy and procedure manual that covers stray animals on the premises.

A truck driver who reported the incident said he saw store employees placing what he believed to be a dead animal in shrink wrap a day after he heard workers joking about shooting the cat.

Which goes to show you that cruelty is in the eyes of the beholder. And, the employees violated the 'Three S's' rule: Shoot, Shovel, and Shut up.

Pilgrim

 

[VonFatman]

So what's the problem?

Other than we live in a "politically correct"/incorrect world! I trap and dispatch stray/free-roaming cats every week.

Indoor cats are fine, free-roaming cats are un-natural and introduced killers. And they are NOT native/natural in our environment. If we don't eliminate them, we won't have any songbirds etc. before long!

BTW, did you realize that free-roaming cats (includes feral/wild and those cats uncaring/uneducated "pet" owners leave to roam freely) kill more songbirds, rabbits, squirrels, quail, pheasant, grouse, etc. the ALL the other natural/native predators COMBINED! That's no bull. It’s a real problem, ask your state conservation department.

Bob

 

[Zundfolge]

federal animal cruelty

Federal? What state lines did they cross to kill this cat?

 

[pete f]

uh ohh

Were they bad shots, or just take too many shots to kill it. Only way I can see it was cruelty.
What happens if they (the anti's) extend this to deer or ducks or pheasants.

 

[Black Snowman]

:banghead:

 

[TonyB]

I heard the cat was going for his wallett,and they thought he had a gun....

 

[cerberus]

Yeah you jerk

...

 

[HankL]

Having a bad day there cerberus?
Remember this one

4.) Spamming, trolling, flaming, and personal attacks are prohibited. You can disagree with other members, even vehemently, but it must be done in a well-mannered form. Attack the argument, not the arguer

 

[ballistic gelatin]

The AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association) lists shooting in the head (see attachment) as an acceptable method of euthanasia.

BUT, I guess they could have called the local Animal Control Department as well. Kind of a bad decision they're part.

 

[why_me]

Brother Jerome would shoot stray dogs

Military academy i went to. ONe of the benedictine monks would send strays to heaven with a shotgun. I remember study hall there is brother jerome in his robe with a shot gun. Dog comes into view...BLAM off goes a leg!! Three legged dog hopping around. Goes up like an assassin puts gun to dogs neck ..Blam head goes flying and a spray of blood arcs across window.
Made me sick. He did this with all strays cats dogs whatever. Every time we heard a shot gun blast we knew brother jerome was out "hunting"

 

[flatrock]

Cerberus,

"It's people just like you that give all gun owners a bad picture in the eyes of the non-gun loving."

I'm sorry you feel that way.

If I find a cat taking up residence in a shed on my property, that cat is going to be removed. If it has a collar, then it's obviously a pet, and I'd make an attempt to find it's owner, or call animal control.

If there's no collar, and it doesn't appear well cared for, then it's not likely a pet.

At that peoint it can either leave with a bit of encouragement from me, or it gets shot.

Stray cats aren't native species here. They're introduced to the environment by humans and they cause considerable havoc in the food chain because of irresponsible cat owners don't fix their pets and just turn the kittens loose for other people to deal with.

The problem is made worse by people who can't get the thought of cats as pets out of their heads when dealing with the problem.

If I found a cat I could capture it and relocate it, but then it just becomes someone else's problem. That's not a solution. There are simply too many stray cats for the ecosystem to handle well.

The best solution would be for cat lovers to be responsible and have their pets fixed. However, that doesn't seem to be happening enough. That leaves us with too many cats. The unfortunate result is that a considerable number of those cats have to be killed. This should be done humanely, but it's not animal cruelty unless done cruely.

 

[W Turner]

My compliments to flatrock for a civil response to an uncalled-for personal attack.



W

 

[Luku]

I didn't think anything like this would happen at one of evansville's walmart. Does anyone have any more information on this?

 

[MAUSER88]

Flatrock your thinking on the subject is way too clear for Cerberus to understand. IT'S ONLY A STRAY CAT for CH**ST SAKE!!!!!!!!! You PETA types never cease to amaze me. You probably have ZERO compassion for the people suffering through the Tsunami but your all broken up over a Freaking stray CAT!!!!!! :banghead:

 

[Calhoun]

The problem is made worse by people who can't get the thought of cats as pets out of their heads when dealing with the problem.

If I found a cat I could capture it and relocate it, but then it just becomes someone else's problem. That's not a solution. There are simply too many stray cats for the ecosystem to handle well.

The best solution would be for cat lovers to be responsible and have their pets fixed. However, that doesn't seem to be happening enough.

Maybe they can't get the thought of cats being pets out of their head b/c, well, cats for the most part are pets. Are you checking to make sure the cats you kill are in fact stray and not someones pet, or that they aren't fixed before you shoot them? Or do you just take aim at the first sight of the cat. I know that cats are preditors, but does that make it right to kill them? Humans are right on top of the preditor list, but that dosen't make it right to shoot them. How are "all the pretty songbirds" different from cats? They are still animals. Or are they not equal b/c cats don't have a pretty song. The birds in my yard tend to crap all over everything, does that make it right to shoot them. Deer are pretty animals, but people shoot them all the time. Where do you draw the line? Are some animals more equal then others?

When it comes to the Walmart employees, they probably deserve what they get. I have never been to impressed with the ones I have had to deal with. 10 to 1 says that there was some cruelty going on. Think there was just 1 shot? Think that it was to the head? I'm betting no on both of those. I say more than 1 shot in the cat, let 'em rot.

Just my opinion. Not enough info in the story to draw a real conclusion.

Mauser88, calm down dude. You are generalizing people that have a respect for animals lives like antis generalize gun owners. ("He owns a gun, he must be a raving killer!!" Sound familiar?) And where, exactly, do you get off implying that people that would be concerned about the well-being of a stray would not also be concerned about those who are having to suffer through the after effects of the tsunami? Why don't you step down off of your soapbox and explain that comment.

Calhoun

 

[jefnvk]

Why is something like this a federal charge?

And we have free-roaming/outdoor cats. Most of the time they stick around the property. If they were on your property causing a problem, and you called me and told me you shot them, I would have no problem at all.

Calling the animal control probabl would have een a better idea, but the again so would have shutting up.

 

[flatrock]

People are very attached to their pets, and they have a hard time seperating their feelings for those pets from their feelings for a stray.

People get very emotional about the issue, and you've got to expect some emotional responses.

Cats are rather intelligent animals with distince personalities. It's a shame that we have to kill them to keep the population of strays under control.

I wouldn't shoot a cat out of malice. I wouldn't shoot one out of indifference either.

I don't hunt. I don't like shooting at live things unless I have to do so. I'm not against hunting, it's just not for me.

I would shoot one that harrased my pets or simply needs to go due to population control. It's not something I would enjoy, but it's something I would do.

 

[wasrjoe]

It's a freaking cat, get over it. I wouldn't want my cats shot. And, amazingly enough, they are indoor cats.

When it comes to the Walmart employees, they probably deserve what they get.

Baseless assumptions, anyone?

People need to grow up and realize that things die.

 

[VonFatman]

I agree, the best thing the employee's should have done was mentioned by Pilgrim..."Shoot, Shovel, and Shut up". Too late for that now. It's the price you pay when you open your yap or fail to plan properly.
I hope the Wal-Mart guys are given a break, but don't expect they will get one.

Cats...

It's not just a "neutering" issue (although with dogs and cats that is a very important issue).

It's a "people issue"
A neutered cat left free to roam is just as much a hunter (although perhaps an octave higher) as any other free-roaming cat.

The point about free-roaming cats is basic. They (cats) were not meant to share our countryside(s) with the native species. They were bred in Egypt many centuries ago from native African wild cats. They no more "belong" in our out-of-doors than do piranha or African lions.

I have nothing against cats. Indoor cats can be wonderful companions and great pets. I don't have anything against responsible pet owners.

I have a problem when they are released to roam and hunt. It's the cat's instinct to hunt. It's what they do....regardless of it having a bell on it's collar or having been "fixed". My neighbor has a cat that "never hurt a thing"...well, last time I saw him in my drive, he had a Eastern Bluebird in it's mouth heading back to the barn.

I believe we should protect our native species. If we don't work to encourage cat owners to keep their cats indoors, if we don't work to eliminate the free-roaming cat, we will loose our native species which BELONG here.

Happy New Year!

Bob

 

[mohican]

As a rural property owner (and a cat owner) I know that all too many unwanted cats get dropped off unannounced in the country. People who think it's "too cruel" to drop a cat off at the local shelter, knowing it will be euthenized think nothing about dropping a cat off in a field. The really clueless drop off their declawed cats off at an appropriate looking field. Feral cats used to put a dent in our local rabbit population, but now the burgeoning coyote population keeps the stray cats in check. A cat that was hanging out at WalMart had probably ceased being someone's pet.

The Manager and employees are guilty, IMO, mainly of bad judgement. (it took 2 employees to dispatch a cat, sounds like a blonde joke)

 

[landon74]

I don't think the world will suffer for one less cat, stray or otherwise. Good lord it won't be long before the body count in Asia will hit six figures.

I agree with flatrock that stray cats are the most detrimental force against the small game population in the suburban setting. They rank right up there with red tailed hawks in my opinion. I can see federal charges for smoking a hawk, but it's a joke for for felony charges over a stupid cat.

 

[Jesse308]

This is ridiculous, since when was it a felony to shoot a stray cat?

 

[Firethorn]

Are you checking to make sure the cats you kill are in fact stray and not someones pet, or that they aren't fixed before you shoot them? Or do you just take aim at the first sight of the cat.

Actually, yes he is. He checks for a coller. He doesn't just take aim at the sight of a cat, the cat has to be occupying his property.

If I find a cat taking up residence in a shed on my property, that cat is going to be removed. If it has a collar, then it's obviously a pet, and I'd make an attempt to find it's owner, or call animal control.