Posted on 12/24/2013 7:07:22 PM PST by DeaconBenjamin
Italian politicians are set to debate the case of an Italian army officer, who is facing at least one year in jail after being prosecuted for saving the life of a pregnant cat while on duty in Kosovo.
Lieutenant Barbara Balanzoni, a medical officer who served at the Nato base in Kosovo, is accused of "gross insubordination" after violating a written order not to "approach or be approached by wild, stray or unaccompanied animals".
Lt Balanzoni, who has since returned to her home in Tuscany, rushed to the rescue of the stray cat in May 2012 after army staff raised concern about noises it was making. She intervened after the staff failed to reach the army veterinary officer, who was in Italy at the time.
The cat, later called Agata, gave birth in an army pavillion but got into difficulties with the final, stillborn kitten.
Lt Balanzoni told the UK's Guardian newspaper: “Far from disobeying orders, I was following military regulations, which state that, in the absence of a vet, the medical officer should intervene...If the cat had died, the entire area would have had to be disinfected. What is more, the surviving kittens could not have been fed. So they too would have died and created an even greater public health problem."
In the process of saving the cat, Lt Balanzoni was bitten - something she told Corriere della Sera was "just a scratch" - and had to receive a rabies jab.
The prosecution argues that rather than preventing a public health problem, she could have caused one.
The trial is set to begin at the Military Tribunal in Rome on February 7th, with the matter expected to be raised in parliament before then.
Lt Balanzoni has returned to her civilian job as an anaesthetist, but told Corriere della Sera that her dream is to work again for the army, "an insitution I love...like cats."
"I'm living a nightmare," she added.
"I hope justice takes its course and that action will be taken against those who brought me from the base to the court."
Thanks, ferret face.
titanium looks like to me. I have ones like that, very sturdy.
meanwhile the cat gods smile with approval.
Cats also have excellent ears and a good sense for danger. Dogs aren’t the only ones capable of warning their human friends!
When your military is considering court martial for a doctor aiding an animal....your military is weak
Knowing the Ita justice system...surprised Amanda Knox isn’t being charged for this
Cats have been used for pest control on British warships back in the age of sail. Also the Queen of England had cats as Mousers killing vermin in the palace.
Same as Dogs, both will work for their room and board.
“This never should have even been officially noticed.”
Several times when people in the work world did astonishingly stupid things I found it effective to tell one of their confidants, “I’m not going to notice that but tell them it would be a good idea if it never happened again.” It always worked.
Able Seacat Simon of the frigate HMS Amethyst was severely wounded during the Yangtze River Incident of 1949, but continued to fight off a major rat infestation until the warship escaped six weeks later. For his actions he was awarded the Dickin Medal.
Simon developed an infection in his wounds shortly after arriving in Britain and subsequently died of his injuries. He received a military funeral which was attended by all of his crewmates and hundreds of mourners.
The worst part of overseas duty was seeing how badly the locals treated animals, esp. strays. Heartbreaking. I am ashamed that the Italian Army is just as bad.
According to an episode of I Spy, some communities use watch geese.
Agreed, Not Guilty!
At most, her CO should have chewed her butt off and given her extra duty.
Is that you, Frank Burns? Well, I’m kind of short, dumpy and nearsighted as well as love animals so I guess I’d be guilty too, I’m more of the Radar type.
Geese can be mean. NATO used them around some bases because they honk like crazy and will attack. Goose Bites can be painful.
Of course, when rations get boring, dinner is on guard duty.
We have geese in our pond. One music student of my wife was greatly afraid of the geese.
Would they have prosecuted if she had performed abortions on the cat?
Well, all it took was the simple ability to obey simple orders. For an officer, no less.
There’s little enough medical support for people in-theater, now you want to provide pet care services? It’s a frickin’ combat zone, not a city park. Get back to reality.
These animals aren’t their personal pets from back home. These aren’t domesticated animals anymore - they’re feral; you know, basically wild. Would you allow a feral raccoon to sit in your lap?
Zero-tolerance has a specific use here. Rabies is not a pleasant way to die. This person’s selfishness has now negatively impacted the unit’s ability to perform it’s mission.
Oh, yeah. A MEDICAL officer, no less. No excuses.
Daily reports. I was there when they happened.
Also ran in Army Times Stars & Stripes, IIRC
I swear I need to change my glasses-—that looks more like a puppy than a kitten.
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