The Ohio SPCA has issued a press release calling for North Ridgeville Humane Officer Barry Accorti to be immediately fired and charged with 5 counts of animal cruelty after he shot 5 kittens trapped in a homeowner’s woodpile last week. A few excerpts from the press release, including a most interesting bit at the end:
A law enforcement officer who resorts to shooting kittens or any non-threatening animal is not only lacking in compassion and moral judgment, but violating Ohio law!
[…]
According to John Bell, attorney for the Ohio SPCA, “Shooting a cat is never legal. It is not painless and therefore violates the “immediate and painless” rule contained in the Ohio Revised Code. It is also expressly illegal to “needlessly kill” any ‘companion animal,’ which includes all cats and dogs.”
[…]
Due to additional complaints and statements received from North Ridgeville residents, the Ohio SPCA has launched a full-scale investigation of previous actions taken by Officer Barry Accorti and the other part-time officer, Brian Gorski. These actions not only indicate inhumane treatment of animals, but also involve life-threatening circumstances to local residents and animals. Landon states, “Two attempts to speak with Mayor Gillock have failed. If the North Ridgeville Police Chief and Mayor Gillock do not take the obvious necessary action in response to these incidents, a lawsuit by the Ohio SPCA will be the only remedy.”
The Ohio SPCA’s statement seems to imply that this was not Mr. Accorti’s first time at the rodeo. I’ll be watching for developments in this case.
Good for them! I’m not surprised that this is not the man’s first “incident” with animals and people. Anyone who could shoot a 2 pound kitten in those circumstances has no moral compass and no value for life. Thanks for keeping us updated.
Absolutely, glad to see they did the right thing!!!!!!
As someone living in a nearby county, I’m not able to avoid this story and have had to turn off the radio several times because one can only hear people discussing kitten killing (and the inevitable “there are too many cats, what’s the big deal? types calling in) so many times before one starts thinking unwholesome thoughts about the nature of humanity.
I am very glad that OHSPCA is legally pursuing the matter and support them in their efforts. I was shocked that there were no disciplinary actions taken for needless discharge of a firearm in a residential area, let alone the whole “slaughtering kittens” aspect.
I do hope locals come forward with information about these men and their conduct.
I’m so glad the Ohio SPCA is taking action. What he did was down right evil and inexcusable. This story has now garnered world-wide attention and outrage. They can’t just sweep this under the rug.
First of all, thank you Shirley for always being the voice for the animals. The internet is a very powerful thing and Shirley is using it in a positive and powerful way to get the word out and facilitate action byall of us.
Second, thank you Terry of OHSPCA. Terry is a committed and dedicated animal welfare advocate who has given her all to fight the injustices against animals that are rampant in Ohio. I urge you all to help her anyway you can–whether it’s donations (which are always needed in order to fund things like this lawsuit), time or adding your voice to the cause.
Third, I urge everyone to make their voice heard. Ohio has an abysmal record when it comes to animal rights and basic animal welfare. Please let North Ridgeville officials know that they are not overseeing an isolated fiefdom and cannot do as they please. They are not above the law and they are not above the most basic principles of compassion. With all the violence out there today, all they did was put a stamp of approval on even more. Think about five innocent little kittens shot at point blank range–and get mad and do something.
Hooray for justice for baby kittens! I hope other “animal control” people learn a hard lesson from this. If it were not for the public outrage on this, this slimeball of an officer would probably never have been dealt with. Now he can go find a job packing grocery bags in some supermarket, if anyone will have him.
It would seem these two officers have as much business being involved with animals as one with a fear of heights has being a helicopter pilot. We wouldn’t allow one with a history of child abuse to work in a school why is it any different with animals, especially companion animals? Now if and when the mayor and or the individual’s supervisor tries to protect or shield this person from discipline and or litigation it only makes the town and county responsible for damages and in the long run the residents of this area. I advocate for personal responsibility in cases of wrong doing and abuse of office, lets shield the innocent citizens from damages and most importantly lets keep and get animal abusers out of these type of jobs.
Good. I’m glad OHSPCA is going forward with this.
I almost didn’t open this topic up. So glad I did..
same here I almost didn’t open it up but have shared the story both times that it has come across my facebook page and will continue to tell all that I know about this atrosity and have them tell as well. This should not be overlooked and swept under the rug so to speak
agreed
what that officer did was just plain wrong for so many reasons…why would anybody need to kill a kitten, take them to a shelter and try to save a life instead of taking one (or 5 in this case). I am very happy that the Ohio SPCA is filing a lawsuit, enough of the :good ol boy way of thinking, I support having this nutbar removed from being around any animals
hmm… so, now, additional complaints come out. As with too many ACOs, seems they operate using fear rather than compassion.
I am kind of interested in the part about it being illegal to needlessly kill any companion animal…
I am guessing the law makes an exception for animal “shelters”…
I am very happy to hear that they are doing a full scale investigation and lawsuit against the person or persons who were so mean and very cruel to kill the kitties and the mama especially in front of the mother with the kids. The Police officers are supposed to be kind and caring towards anyone also the animals too. What the person did was wrong and out of character and still should be accounted responsible for the crimes he did to the animals. We can not let this person get away with it. It should not be a misdemeanor for it should be serious charge than that. Let alone he should say he is sorry and that he could have done something nicer and better for the sake of the animals. I feel so bad for the children oh my god.
I for one have met very few officers that werent absolute jerks……they are mostly losers who get into police work to feel important, then abuse their so called power…and eat a lot of donuts
Once again, human beings stooping to a new low.
THANK YOU TO THE OHIO SPCA 4 BRINGING ABOUT A FULL SCALE INVESTIGATION & CRUELTY & ABUSE CHARGES AGAINST THE OFFENDING OFFICER !!! HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN IMMEDIATELY RELIEVED OF HIS DUTIES & FIRED !! AND FOR THE WOMAN WHO CALLED THE POLICE THEN STOOD BY & WATCHED WITH HER CHILDREN OR GRANDCHILDREN…SHE TOO SHOULD BE CHARGED 4 ENDANGERING THE WELFARE OF THOSE CHILDREN…BOTH PHYSICALLY & MENTALLY…TO HAVE WITNESSED SUCH A VILE & ATROCIOUS ACT !!!!…SHAME ON ALL OF THE “”ADULTS”” INVOLVED IN THE OUTRIGHT ASSASSINATION OF THIS DEFENSELESS HOMELESS LITTER OF KITTENS !!! MAY ALL INVOLVED GET EXACTLY WHAT SHOULD BE COMING TO THEM !!!
I agree that the woman who started this should take her share of the blame…….I have 12 cats, because I take in strays, I would have taken care of that mama and her babies, not gotten on some website boo hooing about fleas, what a wuss, I hope SHE has lots of sleepless nights over what she initiated, as sorry of a human as this low life officer and his ilk
They should be fired! They were innocent kittens! That’s animal cruelty to me!
He disgusts me…….the coward hasnt been seen in a single video about this…only his equally corrupt chief of police and that disgustingly fat and ugly mayor, I hope they all rot in hell
While I may not know a whole lot about the rules police are supposed to follow, I do know enough to say that for one to pull his gun out and shoot it in a residential area is illegal and a quick way to get their badge and gun revoked. The chief and mayor are equally as guilty for breaking the law by supporting what this monster has done. His actions and the fact he showed no emotion while using his gun on innocent, defenseless kittens are nothing less than the act of a psychopath. It is not just this scumbag that should be fired, it is also the chief and mayor, for those who protect someone who has broken the rules created for them and knowingly gone against that which are all bound to, are equally as guilty, and will lose there job. Seeing as it has gone on for a long time, it would not be a temporary punishment. Make the S.O.B pay, along with the chief and mayor!