Animal cruelty and inhumane treatment should never be acceptable, nor common practice especially by police departments. This petition serves to demand change and accountability in regards to the Coon Rapids, Minnesota police department as well as the Animal Humane Society in Coon Rapids.
On Sunday, March 16th, local animal welfare advocates humanely trapped a seriously injured cat in the area of Coon Rapids, Minnesota. This cat had visible wounds to the extent that it appeared bone was protruding through the skin. Seeking help, the Animal Humane Society was contacted by good samaritans as they have a contract with the city of Coon Rapids (per animal welfare advocates who contacted AHS) in which it states they will take in cats found as strays within the city of Coon Rapids. However, the Animal Humane Society turned this cat away with the reasoning there was no veterinarian on staff at that time (per the animal welfare advocates who trapped the cat in mention). The good samaritan then turned to the police department for assistance with the understanding that the cat would be accepted into the Animal Humane Society per their city contract if done so through the police department.
This did not happen. Instead, the officer or officers ignored offers from animal welfare advocates to help this poor soul, and they then took this badly injured animal and dumped it out at a wildlife preserve to fend for itself with the likelihood of an awful death. (This was reported by the people who trapped and attempted to place the cat in question)
This complete disregard and is absolutely inhumane treatment of this animal It is unacceptable and demands action.
If the Animal Humane society is receiving funds for the care of stray animals in the city of Coon Rapids, and is not fulfilling its contractual obligations this needs to be investigated. There are also many people who likely provide donations directly to the Animal Humane Society with the understanding that there are situations such as these with stray cats they have committed to helping, not being handled in this manner.
Secondly, the police department needs to be held accountable. This is not acceptable. No being, especially an injured domesticated animal desperately needing compassion and medical care should be discarded so callously.
When domesticated cats are abruptly displaced to a location which is unknown to them, it's certainly not only a terrifying experience, but often a fatal one. In an unfamiliar territory with no familiar food source or shelter, as well as the increase in predators present in a wildlife reserve, this decision was certainly malicious and cruel.
We are demanding that action be taken to ensure this never happens to another cat who finds themself lost or homeless in the city of Coon Rapids, and that the contracts with the Animal Humane Society be reviewed, and either properly enforced or that better options be made to accomodate animals in need.
In addition, it should be noted that public parks are not meant for nor funded for this purpose. This particular park receives state funds as well as taxpayer funds and its purpose is not to serve as a dumping ground for the police to discard animals. Especially those that have sources of appropriate and ethical care.
While animal welfare advocates have sprung into action to do their best to try to locate this poor cat, the people reading this petition need to take action as well. If this was your cat that had been lost only then to be treated this way would you care? You certainly would, and we urge you to consider this was once someone's cherished pet moving forward.
Thank you.

Please note, this information was provided by multiple parties that were involved in this particular situation and all items cannot not be 100% verified by the petition creator.

Jerry Koch

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