On the anniversary of shooting and killing five kittens, which garnered national attention, same officer kills baby raccoon as children look on
For Immediate Release: June 17, 2014
Contact: JOHNNIE SIMPSON, [email protected] or (240) 482-3895
BETHESDA, MDA very disturbing déjà vu. One year ago, almost to the day, North Ridgeville Humane Officer Barry Accorti was in an Ohio residential neighborhood and shot and killed five kittens. This time is was a trapped, defenseless baby raccoon.
In June 2013, North Ridgeville garnered national attention for the kitten killings, nicknamed the “woodpile five.” Five kittens were shot and killed while children looked on. It is reported the children were extremely distressed after witnessing the act of cruelty.
Just this week, Accorti was at it again. This time his victim was a baby raccoon. Again, children looked on as he shot and killed the defenseless animal.
“These cruel practices cannot and will not be tolerated,” says Becky Robinson, president and founder of Alley Cat Allies. “The fact that a duplicate incident has arisen, with the same officerwho was, against advisement, permitted to keep his joband the same supervisor, demonstrates the clear need for real change after last year’s cruel event. The city must adopt best practices as modeled in many of their neighboring towns in Ohio carrying out nonlethal control and humane education.”
In a letter to Mayor G. David Gillock, Alley Cat Allies calls for the immediate dismissal of Humane Officer Barry Accorti and Police Chief Michael Freeman.
“The culture of cruelty in North Ridgeville needs to change,” says Teresa Landon, executive director of the Ohio SPCA. “The Ohio SPCA receives calls about cats and wildlife and are always able to find a humane resolution. North Ridgeville has no excuse.”
The outcry and distress from local citizens that North Ridgeville received last June and again today serve as a wakeup call for how out of touch the local government is with its residents. The national attention the incident garnered demonstrated how out of step North Ridgeville’s administration is with the rest of the state and country.
“We’re not just cat advocates, we’re animal advocatesand it’s clear that North Ridgeville needs new leadershipqualified, true humane animal care professionals,” says Robinson.
Alley Cat Allies’ letter to the mayor requested a meeting as soon as possible to develop a program in the city that is humane, effective and meets the needs of the community. An Alley Cat Allies representative is in North Ridgeville, working with local advocates and the Ohio SPCA.
For a copy of the letter to Mayor Gillock or to speak with an Alley Cat Allies spokesperson, please contact Johnnie Simpson at (240) 482-3895 or [email protected].
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About Alley Cat Allies
Alley Cat Allies is the only national advocacy organization dedicated to the protection and humane treatment of cats. Founded in 1990, today Alley Cat Allies has over half a million supporters and helps tens of thousands of individuals, communities, and organizations save and improve the lives of millions of cats and kittens nationwide. Its website is www.alleycat.org.