Police officer rescues kitten from children using the animal to ‘play catch’

City of Erie police and the ANNA Shelter have taken a kitten into their care after an on-duty officer responded to reports of kids throwing and playing catch with the animal.

Ruth Thompson with the ANNA Shelter said a neighbor saw the kids more or less using the kitten as a ball and called 911.

Thompson said the kitten had upper respiratory issues and was exhibiting symptoms of shock, but she praised the officer for getting involved

“I feel like now we have to teach our children to be compassionate, it’s not just innate. So it was cool to see that, especially in a career where he’s so hardened from seeing the things that he sees, it’s just nice to see that compassion over a one-pound kitten,” said Thompson. “It just breaks my heart that children think that that’s ok. In no situation should that ever be ok and it scares me how we treat each other, let alone how we treat animals.”

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The police officer responsible for saving the cat said he plans on adopting the kitten, saying it just feels meant to be.

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