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Wal-Mart workers charged in cat shooting

post #1 of 75
12/30/04 at 10:53am
Thread Starter 
http://www.cnn.com/2004/LAW/12/30/ca....ap/index.html
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post #2 of 75
12/30/04 at 11:58am
That's horrible
I'm glad they're facing charges.
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post #3 of 75
12/30/04 at 12:00pm
they should be shot... that's just sick and cruel. They couldn't just take it to a shelter???? Geez....
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post #4 of 75
12/30/04 at 12:04pm
Yeah... Why not call animal control who are there to deal with such issues anyway. It's pretty bad when grown men have to resort to a gun to remove a little cat. I wonder how they tried to 'coax' the cat out? HOw hard is it to pick up a dang phone and call the shelter, they could have sent someone who could have handled the cat without a gun...
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post #5 of 75
12/30/04 at 12:07pm
I have bad words for them, but I can't say them here.
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post #6 of 75
12/30/04 at 12:16pm
And people wonder why I don't trust strangers around my cats. This is such a sad story. And yes those men and their manager ought to be take out behind the Walmart and shot somewhere, oh how to put this?, delicate and bleed out.
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post #7 of 75
12/30/04 at 1:38pm
Wal-Mart manager allegedly ordered shooting of cat

Associated Press
Dec. 30, 2004 07:20 AM

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.
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post #8 of 75
12/30/04 at 1:44pm
Thread Starter 
I simply don't understand why they didn't contact a local shelter or rescue organization and borrow a cat trap. Or buy one - they're not out of this world in price. I realize that not all strays or ferals can be trapped (our last cat having eluded rescuers for years, and Jamie's purported father still at large), but it appears from the article that the effort wasn't even made. How much of a "disturbance" can one cat be to a large store? I'm glad these guys were charged.
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post #9 of 75
12/30/04 at 1:48pm
Thread Starter 
I've merged these threads.
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post #10 of 75
12/30/04 at 1:52pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ali012281
they should be shot... that's just sick and cruel. They couldn't just take it to a shelter???? Geez....



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post #11 of 75
12/30/04 at 2:16pm
Not shot but definitely punished! The email I got said boycott WalMart- but they have suspended these two without pay and the two men will probably be fired, so why ask for a boycott? It would be one thing if the store shrugged it off and said oh well, but it doesn't look like they are going that route. There are just some sick people in the world and not enough pills to make them better. I just hope the man was a good shot and the cat didn't suffer!
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post #12 of 75
12/31/04 at 5:34am
The Wal-Mart here has a garden center cat that has his own little bed and toys in the fenced in area. The employees feed him. He is a feral, and mean as can be, but he keeps the pests out.
I hope the judge is a cat lover and gives those guys the max of the punishment allowed. The guy laughing about it is just too much!
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post #13 of 75
12/31/04 at 6:11am
Quote:
Originally Posted by allissa
Actually, the store can't shrug it off even if it wanted to.
As an Evansville resident I can report that this story was all over the papers and on the tv news. Everyone here's very upset. I'll try to keep up with the news and follow up here if anyone's interested. And, FYI, I hate Wal-Mart and avoid the store at all costs!
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post #14 of 75
12/31/04 at 7:06am
poor cat.. It's like a mini kensington.. All it wanted to do was have a place that was warm and out of harms way.. I'm sure someone could have gotten it out of the storage thingy if it had a better option. I wonder if ut was a mommy cat
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post #15 of 75
12/31/04 at 7:26am
The story even made the Toronto news. It is a sad state of affairs when termination of anything is considered easier then solving the problem.
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post #16 of 75
12/31/04 at 10:31am
This is from Amie/Emmasfriend. She instant messaged my computer.

Hello! If you're able could you share some news with TCS regarding the Wal-Mart cat story?

The three men involved were all fired yesterday according to today's paper. I can't get on right now b/c the boss is lurking around.

Thanks!

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post #17 of 75
12/31/04 at 10:58am
Thank goodness for justice! I'm glad someone stood up for that cat!
Stupid men, resorting to violence to solve a small problem. sounds like my step father and I have no real use for him either. I tolerate him for my mothers sake.
He's a DOG lover. HE HATES cats and will do anything and everything to get rid of them! he's a real a$$.
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post #18 of 75
12/31/04 at 11:06am
I am glad they have been fired, now i just hope that the criminal justice system gives them more then just a slap on the wrist!
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post #19 of 75
12/31/04 at 11:46am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by adymarie
I am glad they have been fired, now i just hope that the criminal justice system gives them more then just a slap on the wrist!
I second that!
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post #20 of 75
12/31/04 at 1:38pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by jcat
I second that!
"Me three"
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post #21 of 75
12/31/04 at 2:00pm
Formal Charges Not Certain In Alleged Animal Cruelty Case

Animal Cruelty Investigation

EVANSVILLE - Since NEWS 25 first reported on the alleged animal cruelty case at the Eastside Evansville Wal-Mart Supercenter, it's picked up national attention, national cable news channels have shown the story Thursday. But now, NEWS 25 has the newest information. We discover Indiana law may prevent prosecutors from pursuing this case in court. At first glance, the case appeared to be black and white.

Court records show these men, managers at the superstore, admitted to investigators they repeatedly shot and killed a stray cat behind the store, using a pellet gun pulled from the Wal-Mart shelves. The documents show the store's top manager ordered his employees to do it. An open and shut case, right?

Vanderburgh Co. Prosecutor Stan Levco said, "As I sit here today, I can't say with absolute certainty we'll file charges. It just depends. We may or may not."

Levco says he has until Tuesday to file formal charges in the case after the sheriff's department filed preliminary charges Wednesday. But Levco says that probably won't happen.

Levco said, "A couple of reasons [why]. Number one, I'm not certain we'll file charges, period. And number two, before I do, assuming we do, I want to have a further investigation of this. There's a number of things I want to check in to."

The specific wording of Indiana's animal cruelty law may prevent formal charges from being filed. The law states anyone "who knowingly or intentionally beats an animal commits cruelty." The facts of the case show the men shot the cat.

NEWS 25 asked Levco, "Is shooting a cat 'beating a vertebrate animal'?"

He said, "That would be a question, because the statute prohibits 'beating' an animal, and in this case, that's not what the facts are."

The law goes on to say that "it is a defense to a prosecution if the person reasonably believes the conduct was necessary to protect the property from destruction or substantial damage."

Everyone questioned by investigators have said the cat was living inside a grocery storage trailer. If formal charges aren't filed by Tuesday, the preliminary charges will expire.

Wal-Mart officials have told us everyone involved have been suspended without pay until the completion of an internal investigation.

Jeff Hardin and Scott Anderson are scheduled to be in court again Tuesday.

______________________________________

The paper today said that three men had been fired. My boss said that he heard on the news this morning that Wal Mart was making a $10,000 donation to a local animal shelter. I'll be sure to catch the news at 5:00 and then give you all an update.
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post #22 of 75
12/31/04 at 3:14pm
Wal Mart will be making a $10,000.00 donation to be split between the Vanderburgh Humane Society and the Warrick County Pet Adoption Center.
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post #23 of 75
12/31/04 at 3:46pm
Stunning....absolutely stunning that Indiana still has such an archaeic cruelty law on the books with that single definition. I even checked it out. (BTW, we have summaries and links to each US state's animal cruelty law in case you are interested in what your state has on the books, and if they can prosecute as a felony at http://straypetadvocacy.org/html/cruelty_laws.html) It is sad that these pieces of scum (a PELET gun??? THAT is cruel!) will probably get off with only losing their jobs because of the wording of the law. Hopefully the notoriety of the case will make the legislature re-evaluate Indiana's animal cruelty law.
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post #24 of 75
12/31/04 at 3:51pm
Thread Starter 
Might it be worthwhile to bombard Indiana legislators with emails asking that the cruelty laws be revised? It won't help in this case, but it might in future ones. "Beating" just doesn't cover the possibilities.
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post #25 of 75
1/1/05 at 10:13pm
One more reason why I will not shop at Wal-Mart!!

What sort of IQ do you have to have to do something this idiotic? These people are truly "programmed" into the Wal-Mart cult
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post #26 of 75
1/1/05 at 11:54pm
NOTICE THE CITY???
It's where I live!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
People here are NUTS!




Quote:
Originally Posted by hissy
Wal-Mart manager allegedly ordered shooting of cat

Associated Press
Dec. 30, 2004 07:20 AM

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.
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post #27 of 75
1/2/05 at 1:49pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rockcat
I have bad words for them, but I can't say them here.

So do i but here it goess
&*@#)*%#*&*&^$#)(@)#*&*#^%$*&$^%*&$)#(_)#@($)&@#(*&^%*$#

that really satisfies me!

grrr i wish i was there so i could actually keep the cat

Now i really like walmart but not the workers!
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post #28 of 75
1/2/05 at 1:56pm
its so unfair wha they have to do to the cat couldnt they just make it go outside or take it somewhere else.

Why do americans even have the right to sell and own guns?

I dont know if it goes to the whole america but i know that in most states they have guns. i think they should ban that law
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post #29 of 75
1/2/05 at 2:32pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by fwan
its so unfair wha they have to do to the cat couldnt they just make it go outside or take it somewhere else.

Why do americans even have the right to sell and own guns?

I dont know if it goes to the whole america but i know that in most states they have guns. i think they should ban that law
Because it's in our Constitution, that's why. Because 99.9% of the people who do own firearms use them responsibly. And it wasn't the inanimate object that killed the poor cat, it was the idiots behind the gun. If they hadn't had a gun, they would have killed it in another way, probably poison, maybe a bow and arrow, or a knife. Should all potentially poisonous and sharp substances/objects be outlawed too because they *could* harm someone or something if misused?
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post #30 of 75
1/2/05 at 5:40pm
I just came from the store and talked to the
Pepsi guy who turned in WalMart employees

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I just came from Wal-Mart and I noticed the Pepsi guy restocking the product.
I told him for all to hear "thanks to whichever one of you guys is responsible! wink,wink"
I said "was it you?" he looked away a little and I said, "oh, you don't have to tell me". I said "I am really shocked to see the store managers pic still up by the service desk!" He told me he was long gone and had lost his job.
There were not only the other 2 who shot the cat involved, there were 3 more who are under investigation as taking part in this heinous crime against a poor homeless cat that a billion dollar corporation could not figure out how to help so they mercilessly shot it with a bb gun and beat it to death. I am pretty sure he was the one who saw the whole thing from his information.
He was very nice and obviously a fellow cat lover. I mentioned that the poor thing made it through last weeks snow storm alive only to be put to death by Wal-Mart's GM. He agreed and as I was walking away, he came up and started telling me more in detail what had happened. They had tried to throw the cat away, but were seen and decided to take it from the property. They took it to Yankeetown for God knows what reason. But the police have the cats' body and have several pictures that this Pepsi guy says his Mom works downtown and she saw them. She said they are beyond awful. You would think a GM of such a major company would be a little smarter than to make such a stupid request of his employees and that he would have so little heart to order them to get a bb gun from their own store shelves and kill this poor little cat. It was a little black and white cat from what I am told.
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