The Solano County Sheriff’s Office confirmed Tuesday that it has opened an animal welfare investigation after a former Vallejo planning commissioner was seen throwing his cat during a meeting last week.
Chris Platzer resigned from the commission on Monday — a week after he picked up his cat and then threw it during a public Zoom meeting on April 20. He was also seen drinking an alcoholic beverage and heard cursing after the meeting.
No other information about the investigation was available prior to Tuesday print deadline.
“I support a full investigation,” Vallejo Mayor Bob Sampayan said this week, speaking on behalf of the City Council. “The video of him throwing his cat is extremely difficult to view.”
Sampayan said he hopes the Solano County District Attorney’s Office files charges against Platzer for animal cruelty.
“His complete demeanor was unprofessional during a public meeting,” Sampayan added.
The furor over Platzer’s cat tossing has gained national and even international headlines as many reacted with disgust over the incident.
At one point in the meeting, Platzer’s cat be heard meowing loudly in the background. Platzer picks up the animal saying “I’d like to introduce my cat,” before throwing the cat off-screen.
Shamus Thornton, president of the Humane Society of the North Bay, said Tuesday that the organization has received about a dozen calls and/or emails asking for the group to step in and help Platzer’s cat.
“We were shocked and saddened by (his) actions,” Thornton said. “But we don’t have authority to remove the cat. We work with the county’s animal control service, which has the ability to enforce the law.”
Thornton said the organization is “ready to provide a loving home for the cat,” should the animal be removed from Platzer’s home.
Platzer couldn’t be reached for comment on Tuesday.
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