ALPHARETTA, Ga. Dec. 16, 2019 Alley Cat Allies condemns the actions of the police officers in Alpharetta who pepper-sprayed a cat and demands the officers be held accountable with possible animal cruelty charges. Video of the incident has played widely in news reports and on social media.
“These officers took an unacceptable and unprofessional approach to the situation,” said Becky Robinson, president and founder of Alley Cat Allies. “No legitimate response from police or animal control would result in using pepper spray on a cat. There is no indication or evidence in the video that the cat was aggressive or showed signs of illness. In fact, she was simply meowing and exhibiting a friendly demeanor. Proper protocols, including calling animal control services, and then the use of a humane box trap, should have been followed.”
During the video, one officer can be heard to say he wanted to shoot the cat with a shotgun. Moments letter, a stream of pepper spray can be seen hitting the cat.
“We demand an investigation into the officers’ actions on this call,” Robinson continued. “Furthermore, the public needs to know what happened to the cat. Using pepper spray on a cat is outrageous, and authorities should consider appropriate discipline.”
Robinson also urged the Alpharetta Police Department to train its officers on proper humane assessment and response procedures to calls about animals.
About Alley Cat Allies
Alley Cat Allies, headquartered in Bethesda, Md., is the global engine of change for cats. Alley Cat Allies is the leading advocacy organization dedicated to protecting and improving the lives of all cats through its innovative, cutting-edge programs. Founded in 1990, today Alley Cat Allies has grown into a powerful force with over half a million supporters. The organization has helped and inspired countless individuals, communities and other organizations to save and improve the lives of cats and kittens worldwide. Alley Cat Allies works with lawmakers, animal shelters and advocates to change attitudes and advance lifesaving policies that best serve the interests of cats. Alley Cat Allies’ website is www.alleycat.org, and the organization is active on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.