To the kitten posse: hold yer fire
Mercy had to be put down Wednesday after doctors found her spine was broken.
“Her spine was just smashed,” said Animal Control shelter attendant Barb Parker. “It only showed up on high resolution, but the vertebrae were just squished. He stomped her good and really hurt her back, so there was nothing to do.”
Poor Mercy. Poor Parker, too, who cared for the kitten so well. Head to this Missoulian.com story for details.
A number of people have talked about trying to nail the single suspect. Guys, didn’t you ever watch The People’s Court? “Don’t take the law into your own hands. You take ‘em to court.” (Music here.)
Charges haven’t been filed yet but it sure sounds like there’s an ubberly thorough investigation going on. So call off the lynch mobs and let off steam by volunteering at one of the animal shelters, OK? Otherwise you’re going to end up sideways with Johnny Law too. And he’s tied up investigating the cat case.
If you do head to Missoula County Animal Control, please give James my regards. He’s the chatty tuxedo cat. What a pair of pipes.
– Keila Szpaller
February 3rd, 2010 at 7:11 pm
They need to do something…I hope Fred VanValkenberg brings charges against Gary Bassett. I don’t understand why he wasn’t arrested that night. It seems to me if your looking at the scene that was described and you have a half dead cat and it was apparent that this guy tried to drowned it and he’s the only one there…you’ve got probable cause….the kitty can’t tell you what happened but clearly the circumstantial evidence was all there.I am glad they are doing a good investigation but let’s have some action and show this ass, Gary Bassett that the city of Missoula isn’t going to let him walk on his disgusting behavior. Now that the cat is dead because of his actions they can file aggravated cruelty charges and nail the bastard. This is what I want to see and I hope it’s done. In fact I will be real upset if it isn’t.
February 3rd, 2010 at 7:34 pm
Thank you Barb Parker and Animal Control for being the decent people that you are in trying to save Mercy and the staff at Pryun’s clinic. Thank you also to the police officers that brought the kitty to the vet. I have been told that a good investigation is being done and I do understand there are a lot of legalities that need to be considered before an arrest but I am hoping that Mr.VanValkenberg will now bring justice to the situation and a strong message to Gary Bassett and anyone like him that you can’t get away with animal cruelty in Missoula.
February 3rd, 2010 at 7:58 pm
Not what I had hoped for. While the original story was quite disturbing, it comforts me to know she felt real love before her demise. Its just a shame such a wonderful little creature had to endure so much. (Please do not rant and rave about Haiti and unborn children here.) This is about Mercy may she rest in peace. God help you Gary Bassett.
February 3rd, 2010 at 11:54 pm
This is terrible. Poor kitty…
February 4th, 2010 at 9:20 am
Gary Bassett you are a sick SOB and I hope you rot in hell. People like you don’t deserve to live. The laws against animal abuse need to be more severe so that people like Gary get the message.
February 4th, 2010 at 9:59 am
I just read the news Mercy was put down yesterday ! Was it really a must ? I had hope for this kitty when they said a surgery was going to take place, now I’m so disppointed and very very sad !
February 4th, 2010 at 4:14 pm
Die and go to hell Gary Bassett. Die slowly, die painfully. Die alone. Suffer eternally.
February 4th, 2010 at 4:57 pm
Hope you guys are proud of yourself, bearing today’s news.
What he did was wrong.. but all of you saying that he didn’t deserve to live are just as bad.
All above commenters should be ashamed of themselves.
February 4th, 2010 at 5:11 pm
I’m sorry, Tom, but he brought this on himself.
February 4th, 2010 at 5:58 pm
Yes, Alison, he did bring this on himself, but I suspect if the whole story were to come out, there are some underlying causes for the troubled actions of a troubled soul.
This is not an apology for said actions-and yes, one should be held accountable for one’s actions.
I am curious though, as to what the underlying issues are that lead to this unfortunate tragedy? The easy answer is the guy was simply an evil warped person. But–you can’t deny that he was a person and someones little boy at one time. Who knows, he might have a family of his own. What went wrong? Should we care?
February 4th, 2010 at 6:01 pm
Allison,
Gloating about suicide is very unbecoming…. just so you know
February 4th, 2010 at 9:35 pm
One underlying cause may be found here: http://copsandcourts.com/
Follow the link to the charging document.
On Feb 2 law enforcement notified Mental Health Professionals the suspect reported a 19 yr history of Clinical Depression and threatened to kill himself.
February 4th, 2010 at 9:42 pm
I don’t think you can blame the people of Missoula for this tragedy. I am proud that the Missoula police and county attorney came to the decision they did and were going to charge him. He deserved it. That he decided not to come to the door and to take his own life was his choice rather than face whatever consequences he would have received and that was his way of dealing with it. The police were just doing their job and the guy had a gun. This could have been even worse if he would have decided to commit suicide by cop and started firing at them. The guy was mentally imbalanced or he wouldn’t have abused the kitten in the first place and he wouldn’t have taken his own life. I agree with think4yourself..it was about the mindless abuse and it wouldn’t have mattered if it was a dog, horse or whatever…decent civilized people don’t do what he did and the outrage would have been the same. You’re not getting it Rob if you think that it is anyone’s fault that he decided to do himself in. All life is precious and it is sad that he made that choice but it was a choice and no one forced him to make it. He did bring the whole incident on himself starting last Sunday with bad choices he made then with the kitten. He’s gone now and I feel bad for his family ,I’m sure this has been a nightmare for them.
February 4th, 2010 at 10:02 pm
Who is blaming the people of Missoula for anything? Not me.
I think everyone involved with this terrible incident probably did the very best they could in a very difficult situation. I was just asking the question if there were any underlying causes for this. I love animals and agree that there should be though enforcement.
February 4th, 2010 at 10:27 pm
No I wasn’t refering to you..my remarks were addressed to Robanonymous..I think his post was removed..I agree that everyone did the best they could and it was tragic all the way around…
February 4th, 2010 at 10:31 pm
I don’t think we’ll ever know the underlying causes, it probably goes back to his childhood..I don’t know…but he clearly, desparately needed help that he didn’t get.
February 5th, 2010 at 12:33 am
Many people have problems and underlying childhood issues, but that doesn’t make you the person you choose to be. You make that choice. So if you have mental illness or have been a victim of childhood abuse does that give you a free pass to abuse another living being. You choose your own destiny and I’m sure this wasn’t the destiny that Mercy chose. Gary Bassett made his own choices and people have to live with that. Now maybe the people around him can feel safe again. I don’t feel sorry for Gary Bassett and the way he chose to end this. In this state he surely would have just got a slap on the wrist and perhaps somewhere down the road it could have been someones child we are all talking about and not Mercy. Think about it!!
February 5th, 2010 at 1:25 pm
Thank you for the FEW people that could see that there may have been more to the story. But, no mercy was shown for my brother, who was mentally ill and told the police he was. He had been under the care of a psychiatrist for decades and was on medication that he was having problems getting. It seems that your community has no provisions for a Dr. care for someone on Medicare.
Gary was a Vietnam vet, a helicopter pilot. He would take his fellow soldiers out to the combat zones to return later a pick them up in body bags. He was never the same after he came home.
He was all alone in your town and has loved and had kitties all his life. He would call me and tell me the cute things Mercy was doing. She was his delight and she loved him. Why do you think she still showed love for humans after she was so badly hurt???
The police came to his door, he told them he was going to kill himself..They knew he was a disabled vet and under psychiatric care. With no mercy in their souls they drove Gary into his darkest corner. Why. with what they knew, did they not send a professional to talk to Gary. So Mercy is dead..my brother is dead..May God Show Mercy on all of you who judge and are without sin.
Gary was a retired MD a psychiatrist..surprise?? He leaves, a wife, 6 kids, a mother, a father, a brother and his sister who knew how good and kind he was.
February 5th, 2010 at 5:06 pm
[...] It gets curiouser. A commenter purporting to be Gary Bassett’s sister writes at Missoula Red Tape: Thank you for the FEW people that could see that there may have been more to the story. But, no [...]
February 5th, 2010 at 8:33 pm
To Gary,s sister..I am sorry for your pain..I am sorry that it ended tragically like it did. You are right..we did not know all there was to the story. We were writing out of emotions and no, there was no mercy for your brother,…the situation was in the hands of the police and I believe that charges should have been made but I agree that knowing his mental fragility, a mental health team should have talked to him. However, we don’t know for sure what was said or how exactly it was handled. I believe they did the best they could and they were under a lot of pressure and just trying to do their job…Were you even aware that this was happening? I wondered where his family was and if they would try to help him. There are doctors here that will take Medicare. Missoula is a town with a heart even though I know you don’t think so. I just wanted to write this to let you know from me anyway, that I wanted consequences for your brother but I didn’t want your brother to die and I feel bad for him and your family that it happened. I wish it would have ended differently. Sincerely wishing you and your family my condolences and that you eventually will find healing and peace… Eileen
February 6th, 2010 at 1:15 am
I just read the affidavit of probable cause and mental health professionals were called.
February 7th, 2010 at 3:19 am
After rereading “Gary’s Sisters” post..I am thinking it’s fake…a helicopter pilot, and a psychiatrist? Please, don’t anyone try to sell me the Brooklyn bridge..I might try to buy it…probably just someone wanting to lay a guilt trip on the bloggers…
February 8th, 2010 at 4:08 pm
Curious how the Missoulian’s comments have been “broken” on all the stories related to this tragedy since the day Bassett killed himself. Perhaps it has something to do with the paper’s lead role in whipping up a public furor over the incident before the facts were clear or before an arrest were even made. Wouldn’t be surprised at all if the comments and threats being left on the website by boors who clearly don’t understand mental illness (including several in this thread)didn’t help push Bassett over the edge. Classy move by all!
February 8th, 2010 at 11:57 pm
There’s nothing more to say, Nick….The tragedy for both Bassett and Mercy is over..blaming isn’t going to do any good..this situation was not simple or black and white…hope you feel better after venting…time to move on with life…
February 11th, 2010 at 3:53 pm
I was just informed of this needless act of cruelty, and to have this come about, from a town that I PRIDE to call home makes me cringe. NO persons life, & no animals life need end this way……It is truly such a sad story, being a cat lover such as myself I feel pushed to say that animal cruelty is wrong and that it should be lawfully dealt w/the harshest of judgments. That being said I feel horrible also for Bassett as he was obviously mentally inhabitant at the time. It is truly a great sadness for all. My thoughts and prayers are w/all of you! I miss and love Missoula and all of you so very much, and I feel so fortunate and proud to call it home! My deepest regrets to all.
Kat
February 12th, 2010 at 9:36 am
If we send cops to handle a medical situation, why don’t we send doctors to issue traffic tickets?
April 14th, 2010 at 1:55 am
Good afternoon, great site, where did you come up with the info in this summation? Im lucky I found it though, I will be checking back soon to see what other blogs you have.