Pa. Cop Shoots, Kills Cat

March 26, 2008 | Pet Pulse Staff Reports

CECIL TOWNSHIP, Pa. –- The family of a 10 year-old cat named Elmo said they’re not sure why a local police officer shot and killed their beloved pet.

The purebred Persian apparently snuck out of owner Roger Odaker’s home late last week.

A few days later when family members were circulating fliers with Elmo’s picture and info, they were surprised to learn from a neighbor that the feline had been shot and killed.

“The last house we went to,” said Odaker’s son. “I asked if they’d seen (Elmo). (The neighbor) came out and said to me ‘I’m sorry but last night we found him but a police officer came out and shot him.’ ”

According to the neighbor and police, a resident called to report the animal, and when an officer arrived on the scene, he reported that the cat appeared rabid.

The officer said in his report that the animal seemed despondent –- as though it had been in a fight with another cat that was also present at the scene. Elmo’s behavior led to his concern that the cat was rabid.

But rather than call animal control, the officer captured Elmo, brought him into a nearby wooded area and shot him.

“He was not injured,” said Roger Odaker. “He just didn’t know where to run. Another cat ran away, and the policeman said if my cat would have run, he would have let him go.”

“I was kind of upset, but just, really in shock. I was a little mad at what they did to (Elmo),” said Odaker’s son. “ ’Cuz I really think there was no need for that.”

The Cecil Township police chief stood behind the 25-year veteran officer’s decision, stating that he did nothing wrong.

The family has since met with local police and asked the department to set guidelines for handling similar situations in the future -– so that other pets do not meet the same fate.

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WPXI 11 News Pittsburgh contributed to this report.