- Pennsylvania, USA -
On the morning of Saturday, July 23, Tyrone Borough Police were dispatched to the area of the 1300 block of Blair Avenue, Tyrone, after receiving a disturbing report of animal cruelty.
The reporting party, Ms. Bridgette Gill (director of Purrfect Paws and Pals in Tyrone), told police that a male driving a silver Ford Raptor pickup truck was traveling south on Blair Avenue and when the vehicle came to a stop, he leaned out of the window and dropped a small kitten on the road. The driver then took off while the helpless furbaby was left to fend for himself on a heavily trafficked roadway.
When police responded to the scene, they reviewed the footage which confirmed everything Ms. Gill had reported.
According to The Daily Herald, later in the evening, officers spotted a vehicle that matched the description of the one that was seen in the video and a scan of the license plate number revealed that it belonged to 43-years-old RUSSELL D. WALK JR., of Tyrone.
On the evening of Tuesday, July 26, police visited WALK’s home along Schoch Hollow Road in Tyrone and placed him under arrest.
Tyrone Borough Police Department said in a Facebook post that WALK “was charged with Cruelty to Animals, Neglect of Animals and Registration and Certificate of Title Required for this incident.”
The charges were filed with Magisterial District Judge Fred Miller.
The Daily Herald reports that the kitten was found by the resident whose camera recorded the incident and with Ms. Gill they took the about 8-week-old kitten to the vet to be examined.
The news agency further reports that on Tuesday, July 26, the police department received a signed letter from VMD John Walter of Tyrone Veterinary Associates which reported the findings of the examination. The veterinarian reported a likely case of intestinal parasites and observed that the real danger that the kitten was subjected to was being “tossed on a busy, residential street where it could have been struck by traffic.”
Until the case is officially closed, the kitten is technically in protective custody.
Court records show that WALK’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for September 6, 2022, (on his birthday), at 9:30 a.m.
According to the Daily Herald, Ms. Gill visited the Tyrone Borough Police Department to report that the video footage had been shown to WALK’s mother who reportedly said: “I guess he got caught, but the cops won’t do anything about it.”
The news agency also reports that WALK has commented his actions on Facebook and said among other things: “It was actually mercy.”
I wonder whether the furbaby was part of a litter and where his siblings and mom are!
Voice For Us Disclaimer: This story is sourced from official news outlets. Links included.
Details may be removed or additional information may be provided in future should such sources report an update.
RUSSELL D. WALK JR., how about authorities drop you into a prison cell & call it ‘actually mercy’?! Fitting! Blessed wee soul, I pray the rest of your life is nothing but love & kisses!