The 'Crime' of Christopher Nuttall ~ Pawprints and Purrs, Inc.

UPDATE: Though Nuttall was fired from his job the first part of August 1998, it wasn't long before he was back on the job and the "matter has been solved to everyone's satisfaction." You may want to thank Nuttall who put his job on the line in order to feed the stray cats (and perhaps enclose a small donation to cover the costs of cat food and/or spay/neuter/vet bills). Address:

Officer Christopher Nuttall
Mid-Orange Correctional Facility
900 Kings Highway
Warwick, NY 10990 USA

June 19, 1998:

Christopher Nuttall is an ordinary working man, trying to make a life in today's world. Nuttall is also a caring man and a catlover, one who works in his spare time along side his wife, Mary, in cat rescue and welfare. Together, the Nuttalls give life to the homeless and unwanted in their area.

Nuttall knows the value of a single cat's life and has proven this by helping the cats who have wandered into his work place. Others there have also jumped in and done their share. But Nuttall just doesn't hold an ordinary job.

He is a seventeen year veteran with Mid-Orange Correctional Facility in New York. People dump their unwanted cats in the prison's vicinity; Nuttall and a few inmates have cared and fed dozens of strays.

About a year ago, a couple of stray cats had begun to come around his prison post. An inmate was secretly caring for them and Nuttall began bringing the inmates food to feed the cats. He has noticed that some of the most hardened criminals help with the caring of them.

Two weeks ago, charges were brought against Nuttall ordering him to remove the cat food. Three days later, the prison suspended him without pay, charging him with contraband and dealing with inmates. Council 82 (the statewide correction officers union) is formally calling a hearing.

How can this happen in a country which is known for its empathy toward animals? Here are two different out-casts of society who have reached out to each other:

(1) the unwanted cats bringing purpose to the lives of criminals serving their sentences,

(2) criminals finding needy creatures to care for and devote their time toward

... and yet the powers-that-be have decided that compassion is a crime. And to make matters worse, have suspended WITHOUT PAY the source of the cats survival.

Please read the linked article of The Times Herald Record: Feeding Cats Threatens Job.

Then send letters or call:

Mid-Orange Correctional Facility
Attention: Warden Henry Garvin
900 Kings Highway
Warwick, NY 10990
Phone: (845) 986-2291

Email Addresses:

NY Governor George E. Pataki:
Governor Pataki

NYS Attorney General - Dennis Vacco:
Email Form

NY Council 82 - Correctional Officer Union (address the President, Larry Weiss):
Email Form