Man Accused Of Shaking Cat Out Of Carrier, Into River

Published: May 14, 2021 at 10:04 AM Author: PENNY EIMS

Cedar Rapids, Iowa – An Iowa man is facing charges for allegedly shaking a cat out of a carrier, and into the Cedar River. The Cedar Rapids Police Department has identified 86-year-old Lloyd Wallace Baird as the man who shook the cat out of the carrier from the 3rd Avenue Bridge and into the Cedar River on May 10.

Baird is charged with Animal Abuse, an aggravated misdemeanor. Please sign the petition today to hold Lloyd Baird fully accountable for his cruel actions!

According to the police, Lloyd Wallace Baird not only dumped his cat into the river, he lied about it. In a release, the Cedar Rapids Police stated that Baird came to the police station and asked if his cat had been found, he then told them that his cat “panicked and jumped in the water” after he stopped to show the feline the river. The authorities stated that Baird, “denied intentionally throwing the cat into the river.”

But Baird’s story didn’t hold water based on witness statements, AND surveillance video. According to the authorities, video footage showed this man intentionally dumping his cat into the river. The police stated that Baird could be seen, “leaning over the rail of the bridge, holding the carrier over the river with the door open and facing down. Baird then shook the carrier causing the cat to fall from the carrier and into the river.”

The female cat was rescued from the river after a good Samaritan reported what happened to the police. A Cedar Rapids Police officer located the cat attempting to get out of the river on a rocky incline near May’s Island. Linn County Sheriff’s Office deputies also arrived on scene and helped remove the cat from underneath a rock next to the water.

According to the police, the cat is currently at the Cedar Rapids Animal Care and Control shelter recuperating from her terrifying ordeal. When she first arrived, her temperature was seven degrees below normal, but x-rays did not reveal any broken bones. Despite what happened to her, she is expected to recover.

Please stand with us as we petition to have Lloyd Wallace Baird receive the maximum sentence for his crime – what he did is unacceptable!

News:

MSN News

The Gazette

Petition Letter

Individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Update 11/08/2021: Animal Victory has learned the final outcome of this case. We have been informed that the defendant accepted the guilty plea on September 30, and received one-year probation and deferred payments beginning on 10/30/2021 for $50/month. We are disappointed in the outcome, but thankful for everyone who took the time to sign the petition to help make a difference.

Update 9/17/2021: Animal Victory has learned that the sentencing has been reset to Sept. 30, 2021.

Update 8/26/2021: Animal Victory has learned that sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 16, 2021.

Update 7/09/2021: Animal Victory has learned that a written agreement and plea of not guilty was entered on 7/07/2021. A case management conference is scheduled for 8/18/2021 and the jury trial is scheduled on 10/18/2021 at 9 a.m.

Update 6/14/2021: AV sent 16,501 signatures along with your comments and our PETITION LETTER to Linn County Attorney Nick Maybanks.

Prior Signatures 16,771