Fred was born in the spring of 2005 in Brooklyn, New York. In September 2005, he was rescued by Animal Care & Control of New York City, suffering from severe pneumonia and a collapsed lung. Fred was adopted by assistant district attorney Carol Moran, as part of a foster care program run by Animal Care & Control of New York City, and was nursed back to health.[1]
In February 2006, Fred was enlisted by the Brooklyn District Attorney’s office as an undercover agent, posing as a would-be patient to help the NYPD apprehend Steven Vassall, a Brooklyn man suspected of acting as a veterinarian without proper license or training. Working with human undercover detective Stephanie Green-Jones, Fred was bait in a February 3, 2006, sting operation to apprehend Steven Vassall, who was charged with unauthorized veterinary practice, criminal mischief, injuring animals and petty larceny.[1] In May 2007, Vassall pleaded guilty to the charges of fraud and practicing veterinary medicine without a licence. As a result of his plea he was sentenced to probation and mandatory psychiatric treatment.[2]
On May 18, 2006, Fred was presented with a Law Enforcement Appreciation Award by Brooklyn district attorney Charles J. Hynes. Fred was later honored on July 8, 2006, at "Broadway Barks 8!", the New York City Theater District’s dog and cat adopt-a-thonbenefit hosted by Mary Tyler Moore and Bernadette Peters. He was presented with the Mayor’s Alliance Award, which is given to remarkable animals.[3]
Later lifeedit
Following the sting operation, Fred began to receive training as a therapy animal, with the purpose of becoming a teaching-animal in the district attorneys office's "Legal Lives" program. Here, he would be taken into classrooms to help teach children how to treat and care for animals. The owner also received offers from animal talent agencies for him to have spots in television commercials.[3]
Deathedit
Fred died on August 9, 2006, when he escaped from his home in Queens, New York, and was struck and killed by a car. Fred was 15 months old.[1][4]
^ abcBrick, Michael. (August 12, 2006). A Detective. A Celebrity. And That Was Just Life No. 1. The New York Times. Accessed February 8, 2015.
^Brick, Michael. (23 May 2007). "Brooklyn: Probation for Fake Veterinarian". The New York Times. Accessed February 8, 2015.
^ abDestefano, Anthony M. (19 May 2006). "Brooklyn DA offers commendation for 'Undercover Kitty'". Newsday.
^Destefano, Anthony M. (11 August 2006). “Beloved 'Undercover Kitty' Fred dies". Newsday.
External linksedit
Fred's Obituary in the New York Times
April 11, 2024
fred, undercover, kitty, 2005, august, 2006, domestic, shorthaired, gained, attention, undercover, work, with, york, police, department, brooklyn, district, attorney, office, arrest, suspect, posing, veterinary, care, provider, bornmay, 2005brooklyn, yorkdieda. Fred the Undercover Kitty May 2005 August 9 2006 was a domestic shorthaired cat who gained attention for his undercover work with the New York Police Department and the Brooklyn District Attorney s Office in the arrest of a suspect posing as a veterinary care provider Fred the Undercover KittyBornMay 2005Brooklyn New YorkDiedAugust 9 2006 2006 08 09 aged 1 Queens New YorkCause of deathStruck and killed by an automobile Contents 1 Early life and adoption 2 Law enforcement career and honors 3 Later life 4 Death 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksEarly life and adoption editFred was born in the spring of 2005 in Brooklyn New York In September 2005 he was rescued by Animal Care amp Control of New York City suffering from severe pneumonia and a collapsed lung Fred was adopted by assistant district attorney Carol Moran as part of a foster care program run by Animal Care amp Control of New York City and was nursed back to health 1 Fred and his brother George were named after Fred and George Weasley the prankster brothers in the Harry Potter series of novels created by J K Rowling Law enforcement career and honors editIn February 2006 Fred was enlisted by the Brooklyn District Attorney s office as an undercover agent posing as a would be patient to help the NYPD apprehend Steven Vassall a Brooklyn man suspected of acting as a veterinarian without proper license or training Working with human undercover detective Stephanie Green Jones Fred was bait in a February 3 2006 sting operation to apprehend Steven Vassall who was charged with unauthorized veterinary practice criminal mischief injuring animals and petty larceny 1 In May 2007 Vassall pleaded guilty to the charges of fraud and practicing veterinary medicine without a licence As a result of his plea he was sentenced to probation and mandatory psychiatric treatment 2 On May 18 2006 Fred was presented with a Law Enforcement Appreciation Award by Brooklyn district attorney Charles J Hynes Fred was later honored on July 8 2006 at Broadway Barks 8 the New York City Theater District s dog and cat adopt a thon benefit hosted by Mary Tyler Moore and Bernadette Peters He was presented with the Mayor s Alliance Award which is given to remarkable animals 3 Later life editFollowing the sting operation Fred began to receive training as a therapy animal with the purpose of becoming a teaching animal in the district attorneys office s Legal Lives program Here he would be taken into classrooms to help teach children how to treat and care for animals The owner also received offers from animal talent agencies for him to have spots in television commercials 3 Death editFred died on August 9 2006 when he escaped from his home in Queens New York and was struck and killed by a car Fred was 15 months old 1 4 See also editList of individual catsReferences edit a b c Brick Michael August 12 2006 A Detective A Celebrity And That Was Just Life No 1 The New York Times Accessed February 8 2015 Brick Michael 23 May 2007 Brooklyn Probation for Fake Veterinarian The New York Times Accessed February 8 2015 a b Destefano Anthony M 19 May 2006 Brooklyn DA offers commendation for Undercover Kitty Newsday Destefano Anthony M 11 August 2006 Beloved Undercover Kitty Fred dies Newsday External links editFred s Obituary in the New York Times Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Fred the Undercover Kitty amp oldid 1216976210, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
