Pet owner says apology from animal services "not genuine"

LAND O' LAKES, Florida- Debbie Patsos remains outraged nearly a full week after her pet cat "Peggy" was euthanized minutes after it was picked up by an animal control officer. Pasco County is still maintaining the animal was severely injured and was put down to end its suffering.

"They're still hiding behind the lies that they falsified in the report," said Patsos.

Debbie says her cat was born with only three paws and the officer mistook that disability for an injury, euthanizing the cat instead of taking the animal for an evaluation at a local shelter.

Photos: Patsos pet cat, Peggy

"I'm not buying this apology. It's a fake apology," said Patsos after her conversation with animal services on Friday. "They're putting a band aid on an open artery."

While not admitting wrongdoing, the county says it has changed its policy, eliminating euthanasia in the field and requiring officers to attempt locating a lost pet's owner. If the owner can't be found, euthanasia will still be allowed, but only at the shelter and the remains must now be held for a minimum of seven days.

"I'm super glad they are changing the policy. That's what I want my cat's death to represent, that was what was needed to be done," said Patsos. "But I don't want them to say my cat's death was justified because she was in pain and suffering because she was not. I want them to admit that she was put down mistakenly."

Debbie said until the county admits fault, she's hiring an attorney and plans to file suit. She says she'll drop the entire matter, only if the county amends its statement with an apology for wrongly killing her cat.

"That would give me closure. I could put this behind me and know my cat's death was not in vain."

Follow 10 News Reporter Beau Zimmer on twitter @Zimm10

Source: http://zephyrhills.wtsp.com/news/news/389272-pet-owner-says-apology-animal-services-not-genuine

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