Georgia Residents: Don't Let a Cat be Pepper-Sprayed

2020-01_ADV_GA_Alpharetta.jpgThis action is ONLY for residents of Georgia

*If you live in Alpharetta, please use this action instead.

In November, police officers in Alpharetta, Georgia pepper-sprayed a friendly outdoor cat—an abusive and highly unnecessary action. As the experts in the field, Alley Cat Allies offered to meet with city leadership and discuss training officers on proper protocols for cats outdoors so an incident like this never happens again.

Though the City and Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell initially agreed to hold these discussions with Alley Cat Allies, they recently reversed the decision and withdrew from dialogue. This lack of action to prevent harm to animals is disturbing. Alpharetta’s cats and residents deserve better.No city in Georgia should allow its public servants to do harm to animals.

Please write a letter to Alpharetta Mayor Jim Gilvin below and tell him you want Alpharetta to reopen talks with Alley Cat Allies and protect cats.

Recipients

  • Mr. Jim Gilvin

Message

Allow your police to receive training on how to approach a cat

Dear [Decision Maker],

As a resident of Georgia, I urge you to take immediate action to protect Alpharetta's cats from further harm.

I was shocked and upset when I first heard that a friendly cat was pepper-sprayed by Alpharetta's police officers in November. I was even more concerned to hear that Mayor Pro Tem Donald Mitchell decided not to meet with Becky Robinson, president and founder of Alley Cat Allies, when she reached out and offered to discuss best practices regarding police assessment and interaction with cats.

Proper training is critical to ensure that an inappropriate response toward cats never happens again in Alpharetta.

I urge you to reopen a dialogue with Alley Cat Allies and enable your police to receive training from the experts in the field so they approach cats in a humane and acceptable manner in the future. The decision to pepper-spray an innocent cat, who was only meowing and not displaying any aggressive behavior, shows a disturbing lack of understanding of cats within your police force.

By working with Alley Cat Allies, you can provide officers with the best protocols and information to prevent another incident like this.

Pepper-spraying a cat is never acceptable and there are humane options and well-established best practices for cats living outdoors. I do not want to visit or do business in a city that allows its public servants to harm animals. I ask you to please meet with Alley Cat Allies and learn how to train your officers to protect cats.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, State ZIP]
[Your Email]

Contact

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