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Posted on 01/15/2003 5:38:03 AM PST by Cagey
UPPER DUBLIN - "Lucky" the cat earned his new name. After being struck by a truck Dec. 22 and found lying on the side of Fitzwatertown Road, the 2-year-old stray was rushed to a Blue Bell veterinary hospital by a crossing guard and a police officer. At least one of the feline's nine lives was spared. Two Upper Dublin police officers, however, were disciplined for breaking department policies during the rescue. One officer got a five-shift suspension without pay. Donna Garber, an off-duty school crossing guard, was driving to the Willow Grove Park Mall at 7:30 a.m. that Sunday and saw the truck in front of her hit the black stray. She stopped her car when the cat scurried to the side of the road. A resident called police. Officers from both Abington and Upper Dublin responded, because the road forms their shared boundary. According to Garber, an Abington officer suggested he could euthanize the injured cat by shooting it, but Upper Dublin Officer Laurie Sweeney said it should be taken to an animal hospital. Garber offered to transport the cat herself, but Sweeney said they could take her police vehicle, and off they went with lights flashing and sirens blaring. "The vet said, 'It doesn't look good.' We just said we'd take care of the bill," Garber said. The cat had suffered a broken hip, a broken leg - part of which had to be amputated - and a collapsed lung, but recovered and was released to Garber on Jan. 2. The veterinary hospital has not charged either of them for more than $1,500 worth of services, including neutering, shots and more. According to Garber's account, Sweeney knew she might be suspended when they headed for the vet. Upper Dublin Police Chief Terrence Thompson said Monday that he could not discuss the situation because it involved personnel matters. He declined to name the officers, saying any comment might violate their rights. Sweeney, however, acknowledged that she was suspended for violating department policies, like using sirens and lights in the rescue of an animal and failing to follow procedures for transporting a civilian in her vehicle - all for a call that should have been Abington's. Sweeney did not challenge the disciplinary action and served her suspension last week. Reached by telephone, she said only, "I'm very happy that the cat survived and I'd like to thank Steinbach Veterinary Hospital, especially Dr. Reinhart." "Lucky," as Garber's 4-year-old granddaughter has dubbed the cat, tends to hide in the laundry room behind the clothes dryer, avoiding the family's three other pets and is still quite defensive of its injuries. But the cat is starting to eat some dry and canned food and is wandering out of its corner from time to time. Garber said of Sweeney's situation, "I think the suspension was a little harsh, but she did the right thing. What were we supposed to do? Leave it there?" Sweeney has phoned several times and continues to offer to pay for the cat's future food and care, Garber said.
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