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 BROOKLYN---Undercover Detective Fred the Cat, an indoor cat, who was instrumental in nabbing a phony veterinarian earlier this year, has died after escaping from the home of his caretaker, assistant District Attorney Carol Moran.
Moran was tending to two dogs when Fred scooted out the door of the house, wandered into traffic and was struck by a car and killed.
Fred became a hero when he helped to bring down a phony veterinarian who preyed on innocent animals. Last year, Steven Vassall was advertising his services as a veterinarian. But he was unlicensed and hurting animals by performing risky surgeries on them. The DA's Office learned of this criminal activity when the owner of an ill dog named Burt contacted them. Vassall took the Boston Terrier, then contacted his owner, Raymond Reid, the next day telling him that Burt needed surgery to remove an object from his intestines. The following day, Vassall again called Burt's owner and told him that Burt needed additional surgery because of an infection. Later, he suggested putting Burt to sleep. Reid said that he wanted to see his dog so Vassall dropped Burt off outside of Reid's home with no collar. He was also bleeding from licking his stitches. Reid quickly brought Burt to an animal emergency center for proper treatment.
An investigation was initiated and it was found that Vassall had hurt other animals as well. The DA's Office implemented a sting operation in which a Brooklyn apartment was wired and equipped with hidden cameras and microphones. Detective Investigator Stephanie Green-Jones contacted Vassall and told him that her cat needed to be neutered. The DA's Office sent in Undercover Detective Fred the Cat, an eight-month-old former stray, to help catch Vassall in the act. When Vassall agreed to neuter Fred for $135, he picked up Fred and walked out of the apartment with the cat in a carrying case. But detectives were waiting for him and Vassall was placed under arrest. Vassall has since been indicted and is awaiting trial.
Fred instantly became a hero. He was rescued from the streets by NYC Animal Care and Control when he was a four-month-old kitten with pneumonia and lung problems and was fully rehabilitated and adopted by his foster family. Since Fred's heroic actions, he had taken part in press conferences and interviews, wearing his DA's badge. Fred was honored with a Law Enforcement Appreciation Award. He also received an award on Broadway. Broadway Barks 8, the theater district's adopt-a-thon benefit, hosted by Mary Tyler Moore and Bernadette Peters, presented Fred with the Mayor's Alliance Award, which is given to remarkable animals. In addition, Fred was preparing for a new career in education. He was going to play a significant role in the DA's Legal Lives program where he would go into classrooms to help teach children how to treat and care for animals. 8-14-06
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© 2006 North
Country Gazette
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