Man who killed cats could face jail time
Control specialist admitted killing 3 living by a TV station

Wednesday, Jul 02, 2008 - 12:08 AM
By BILL MCKELWAY
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER
A longtime animal-control specialist is facing up to a year in jail on each of three charges of unnecessarily killing feral cats last month.

Keith Copi, who operates Critter Control, is expected to be arrested this week, according to Henrico County police.

His attorney said Copi will be vindicated when the case comes to trial.

Copi came under attack from animal lovers after he acknowledged killing three feral cats that were part of a large colony of the animals behind television station WRLH in the 1900 block of Westmoreland Street in Henrico County.

WRLH had said the cats were damaging cars in its parking lot, but employees at neighboring businesses, and even some at WRLH, have fed the cats for years.

Copi has operated Critter Control since 1995.Three years ago, he described himself as someone who solves "animal problems" for a living. He said then that he had a pet cat, a rooster, six hens and three rabbits.

Authorities declined to say how Copi killed the cats, which are legally considered companion animals. The only legal means of a euthanasic killing of a companion animal is by lethal injection under the guidance of a veterinarian.

Copi is charged under animal-cruelty statutes that make it illegal to kill any animal unnecessarily.

Richmond SPCA officials last night praised Henrico officials for bringing the charges, noting what they called "the seriousness of the brutality inflicted by Critter Control and Fox TV Richmond on innocent companion animals."

Robin Starr, Richmond SPCA's executive director, said yesterday that humane agencies will continue to work to trap the animals, neuter them, provide veterinary care and return them to the colony.

Animals that show that they can be socialized will be adopted out, SPCA said.

As many as 40 cats existed in the colony and may have begun living in the industrial area when a large open-air market was located there some 30 years ago.
Contact Bill McKelway at (804) 649-6601 or bmckelway@timesdispatch.com.