posted May 23, 2010 01:40 AM         

Linda and Harry W have always loved animals. Linda feeds the stray cats on her mail run and around her neighborhood everyday. You can find her walking her dogs carrying a bag of cat food to dispense where she knows the stray and abandoned cats hide. Many of them in her own yard, under a shed or porch. They gravitate towards her and once they feel comfortable to allow her close to them, she would holds them, takes them to the vet, get checkups, shots, and spay and neutering is done. Babies just born and abandoned by their mothers, or left to die by mothers who had been hit by a vehicle or lost to the environment are nurtured by Linda.

The cats know her. She even went to a baby shower at a local church and a stray cat walked right up to her, as if to say “I know you help others, can you help me too?” and she did. Within days she found her a new home. I personally have adopted 9 cats from Linda and Harry W., making them a part of my family.

Being this kind, a Mrs. Doolittle of sorts, must have gotten around the animal community, because a squirrel that had been hit by a car on Linda’s mail route was rescued and saved by her too – and is probably running around NEPA spreading the news. Everyone from the Vet to her husband refer to her lovingly as the “Crazy Cat Lady”.

Thousands of dollars out of their pocket goes to trying to eliminate the overpopulation of the stray and feral cats. Many of them she finds homes for. Others are released after they are “fixed” with a cropped ear. Some she grows a bond with and adopts herself. But every cat she comes across, she gives a name. Whether they are released, adopted, or kept as her own, they become her family. She is on a mission and watch out, because she can’t be stopped.

Twizzler was one of those brought into her family home. He was special. Twizzler was an all black furry cat that Linda and Harry named Twizzler – Twiz for short. No other markings at all. When he lay in the sun, he would appear as a chocolate-brown like the licorice. He was a constant companion of Harry and Linda when they returned from their day’s activities. They owned him for over four years and made him a part of their family. He was vaccinated, had regular vet visits, neutered and was loved. He liked to play outside, but was an indoor pet just the same. Twizzler would greet Harry and Linda every day upon returning from work as if always indebted to being rescued and raised by them. Twizzler always wanted to be held. He wanted to be loved.

Then it happened:

It was just over a year ago in April 2009, that Linda was on the phone with a friend looking out her kitchen window. She saw her neighbor and his kids playing and was enjoying the Sunday afternoon herself taking care of chores. What happened next shocked her. She watched as her neighbor raised a gun, aimed and shot twice. She watched as her helpless Twizzler ran and dropped at the foot of her driveway. She ran to his side. He was not moving. She called the community’s public safety and 911. This man had killed her cat. She was tormented and devastated.

Reports were taken. The neighbor, Charles Johnson, denied he did anything as well. His relative Norma Padilla Riss, who coincidentally lives on the same cul-de-sac, chimed in from being inside her home and stated nothing happened – Linda was lying and trying to start trouble.

The police saw no blood and stated they could not do much about it at the time. Linda flew into action. She place Twizzler lovingly into a cooler filled with ice. She took Twizzler to the vet the next day. The same vet that had done all regular checkups and procedures on Twizzler as well as over 50 other cats for Linda and Harry – Dr. Andrew Church in Blakeslee PA. He too was heartbroken. His office had come to know Linda and her many cats, as well as Twizzler quite well. He did a necropsy. It was confirmed. Twizzler had been shot twice – once through the heart and the other through the abdomen. One pellet was still lodged inside him.

After Linda took the evidence to the police, neighbor Charles Johnson was charged but it was quite a few months later and after many follow-up calls made by Linda and Harry about the shooting death of Twizzler.

•Charles P. Johnson, 43, of Tobyhanna, charged with fatally shooting a neighbor’s cat. http://www.poconorecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100122/NEWS/1220363
•http://ujsportal.pacourts.us/DocketSheets/CP.aspx
After denying the claim and using supporting perjurious statements by a family member as evidence, he finally admitted guilt on May 4, 2010, a little over a year after the incident. Maybe he realized Linda and Harry were not going to let this case die along with Twizzler.

Linda has Twizzler’s heart on her mantle in a formaldehyde solution. She misses her family member, as any mother would miss a child. She has over 17 other cats she is currently caring for until she can find them homes and that number changes as she adopts them out and takes in even more. Vaccinations, neutering, checkups…but they are not her Twizzler. He was special to both Linda and Harry.

I am sure the only reason this case was followed up at all was because Linda and Harry have pursued this case vigorously for justice for Twizzler. Now they ask for our support to ensure Charles Johnson does not get a slap on the wrist for this heinous act carried out in front of his own children. He discharged a weapon, in front of his kids, to kill a harmless pet cat owned by people who have done nothing more than rescue and care for those animals others leave behind.

Please call the Pennsylvania DA – 570-420-3470, and let him know that the killing of Twizzler is not acceptable and cruelty to animals is important to all of us. Do it for Linda. Do it for Twizzler.

Linda and Harry thank you.

For information on adopting a cat that has been rescued by Linda W, please contact me at 570-350-1784. Remember, there are hundreds of animals at your local shelter that need love and a good home, but keep in mind, you must be ready for a pet. They become family, and to discard them to the wild when you no longer have a use for them is wrong.