Pet Cat Euthanized at Humane Society, Owner Angered

A local pet owner took to Patch last week to express outrage after his cat was put down by the Harford County Humane Society.

Harford Humane Society director Dave Fang posted a response on the organizations Facebook page stating the cat's vicious behavior prompted their actions.

The Humane Society's board is expected to review its policy on euthanasia based on the incident and Brooks' lawyer and the shelter are in settlement talks, ExploreHarford.com reports.

Patch user Robert Brooks wrote on Facebook that his cat Mistoffelees was an indoor cat who slipped out of the house June 28 while he was out of town.

The next day, his girlfriend called the Humane Society, got the answering machine and left a message, according to the post.

A few days later, the Brooks learned his cat had been sitting next to his house and his neighbor had taken her in, then turned her in to the Humane Society because he didn't realize whose cat it was, the post states.

When Brooks reached out to the Humane Society again, he was notified "the cat appeared to be Feral and they put Feral cats down," the Facebook post states.

Ultimately Brooks learned his cat, which was spayed and declawed, had been put down hours after she was taken into the shelter.

"Our staff is well versed in observing and testing a cat’s temperament," Fang wrote in his response.

Fang said Mistofeleess' ears were pinned back, she was hissing and biting and did not calm down after a "cool off period."

"After consulting with the manager and other staff members, the decision was made that this cat could not be safely handled, was a threat to the staff and, from a medical perspective, to every other cat in the facility," Fang wrote.

The cat had no microchip and, "[t]here was nothing to indicate that this underweight cat with a scratch on its nose had a home," according to Fang.

"While The Humane Society of Harford County is sorry that this gentleman lost his treasured pet, we grieve for any and all of the animals that are euthanized at our facility, whether they are potentially adoptable or not," Fang wrote.

He added that microchips, a collar and a name tag are the best ways to ensure being reunited with indoor or outdoor pets.

Aaron Tomarchio, a member of the shelter's board and chief of staff for County Executive David Craig, told ExploreHarford.com the rules about holding animals would be reviewed in a meeting Friday.