smittywerbenjagermanjensenackles:
what the fuck (via)
THIS IS NOT OKAY. THIS IS NOT OKAY. THIS IS NOT OKAY.
No but that’s illegal.
That is actually illegal.
What the hell.
Hello friends, this is a violation of sections 959.06A and 959.131B of the Ohio state law. The former is a fourth-degree misdemeanor. The latter is a first-degree misdemeanor on the first offense and fifth-degree felony for each subsequent offense. This man shot a litter of kittens, not a single animal as the law is worded, so a case could be made for felony (or four). Either way, this is a crime. There is also the federal Animal Welfare Act which I’m not even going to get into.
According to the AVMA’s annual euthanasia panel, shooting an animal is only considered humane in emergency situations, as in if the animal presents immediate danger or is in too much pain to be moved. It also notes that the euthanasia must take place in a remote location. These kittens were healthy, in no pain, posing no threat to anybody, and were in the immediate vicinity of children.
And, this article has it wrong: Accorti is a humane officer, not a police officer. This is his job description, direct from the North Ridgeville, OH website: “The city employs two part time Humane Officers, who are responsible for enforcing the city and state laws governing the keeping, registration, vaccination, and sanitation of domestic animals.” He’s employed to enforce the state law, so he knew exactly what he was doing.
Please do not let this man walk away unpunished and with his job intact. Make noise. Get the attention of the higher-ups. Sign these petitions. Email or call any of these people: city mayor, district attorney, state attorney general, state senator, state representative, governor, US representative, US senators, or anybody else who has power over the police chief. You can do this even if you don’t live in Ohio.
The lives of five homeless kittens may not seem that important, but officers are not above the law. Barry Accorti could be charged with a felony for his actions if we can get the attention of the people with the authority to make this happen. Please, please, please stand up against animal cruelty and officers who break the law and expect to get away with it.
