February 9, 2006
Kitty Cat Helps the D.A. Fight Crime!
If you thought your cat was only good for adorable primping (and hairballs), meowing during scratches, and covering up litter box poop, think again - your cat could have a future in law enforcement. Because the Best Story Ever Ever Ever is how the Brooklyn DA's office deputized an eight month old cat from Animal Care and Control to help bust a fake vet! The case itself seems straightforward - Robert Reid was suspicious of the "treatment" Steven Vassall gave Reid's terrier Burt (Burt had an open wound, was bloody, and didn't need medication post operation) so he contacted the Brooklyn DA's office - but it has the cutest crop of characters ever. Assistant DA Carol Moran selected Fred the cat from Animal Care and Control for a sting operation, where Vassall agreed to neuter Fred for $135 and was promptly arrested. The media was putty in the paws of Fred and Burt - see the NY Times photo of Fred reeling from Burt's kiss; see AM New York's photo of Burt at the press conference - hell, AM New York put him on the cover! The Post titled its article Paw and Order, and the Daily News reporter Nancie L. Katz gets a subtle shoutout from the NY Times' staccato, noirish retelling of the animal tale:
The victim was stitched up. The hero wore a badge to meet the news media. His big green eyes looked past a dozen TV cameras. A dozen camera operators made kissy noises.Yes, Fred is wearing a detective's badge - does the police union know about this? Now, will Manhattan DA Robert Morgenthau try to rein in a fleet of pigeons outside his window to spy on drug dealers? And you bet the writers of Law & Order are working on the ripped-from-these-headlines script!A tabloid reporter asked the district attorney a tabloid question.
"This is the first, Nance," Mr. Hynes said. "First undercover cat."
Then Fred took a nap in the corner. Tomorrow was another day. His owner said neutering was still in the works.
You can adopt a pet from Animal Care and Control - see who is available here.
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Does anyone else notice that he's cross-eyed?
I'd like to add that I really want a crime fighting cat and a cat is just what ADA McCoy needs on Law & Order.
Actually, Jen, he's wall-eyed. And very, very handsome!
Hey, I'm all for undercover kitties. Any detective who can lick their own backside is an asset to the force!
Thanks, Ping! And Jen: my roommate works on L&O. We can ask him to spread word about the potential awesomeness of a small, furry, butt-licking Assistant Assistant District Attorney.
I think this is a great case the DA is bringing but this deputized cat stuff is so dumb and feeds right into the problem with these cases - no one takes them seriously. Animal crultey is serious despite the fact that virtually no one gets any significant jail time and is virtually always a misdemanor even in cases of horrible abuse-neglect.
Yet instead of just bringing the case the DA trys to get media attention with some stupidity about deputizing a cat (which of course for those of you gullible people - isnt true) and making the whole thing a cutsie puff piece, instead of a serious criminal matter
Anon,
It appears you're so eager to jump on the story that you neglected to read anything in the links. You can't make blanket statements like "virtually always a misdemeanor." In this case, Vassall "is also charged with Unauthorized Use of a Professional Title and Unauthorized Practice, both Class-E Felonies. He faces up to four years in prison." Although he'll probably plea bargain.
What I wanna know is -- did they just dump the poor thing back at Animal Care and Control or did someone adopt Burt?
The Times photo is the bestphotoever.
And I'm sure Fred is either adopted already or will be very, very soon.
I know what you mean by going back to the city's shelter aka animal care and control.
I adopted my pets from the ASPCA and North shore animal league.
Other's have had good experience with bide a wee.
But, Fred is a handsome devil.
#8,9,10
If you guys read the articles carefully you'd know that:
1) Burt already has an owner, who was the one suspicious of the fake vet and got this sting operation rolling.
2) DA Moran owns Fred.
I really wonder about people who would trust their animal to a vet who has no office. Just that should tell you something is not kosher with the guy.