Pat the Cougar

All joking aside, I am very relieved that big cat is dead. Some think the police were too hasty in shooting the cougar. Hey, this is no pat the bunny exercise. Puh-leaze. MSNBC:

Police Supt. Jody P. Weis said the officer who fatally shot a 150-pound cougar in the Roscoe Village neighborhood Monday night no doubt saved lives by his action.

Weis said the big cat charged at the officer and the decision to shoot the cougar was made in a split-second. Weis noted the cougar was on the loose one block from Audubon Elementary at 3500 N. Hoyne Ave. He said the cougar was in an area that put many people including children in danger.

Protests from the know-it-alls not on the scene:

According to the Humane Society, cougars are secretive, shy animals that avoid humans. Joan Dahlberg, president of the Human Society, said killing the cougar was not the only solution.

"I think it's inexcusable that they killed that animal," said Dahlberg. "They could have taken that animal to the zoo for recovery after tranquilizing. He could have been placed in a natural habitat."

Well, let's see--do you want to take the chance that a tranquilizer gun would have enough juice to drop that cat in its tracks as it was coming straight for you Ms. Dahlberg?

Video here from NBC5 Chicago. HT The Bench.