Posted on 12/24/2013 7:07:22 PM PST by DeaconBenjamin
Italian politicians are set to debate the case of an Italian army officer, who is facing at least one year in jail after being prosecuted for saving the life of a pregnant cat while on duty in Kosovo.
Lieutenant Barbara Balanzoni, a medical officer who served at the Nato base in Kosovo, is accused of "gross insubordination" after violating a written order not to "approach or be approached by wild, stray or unaccompanied animals".
Lt Balanzoni, who has since returned to her home in Tuscany, rushed to the rescue of the stray cat in May 2012 after army staff raised concern about noises it was making. She intervened after the staff failed to reach the army veterinary officer, who was in Italy at the time.
The cat, later called Agata, gave birth in an army pavillion but got into difficulties with the final, stillborn kitten.
Lt Balanzoni told the UK's Guardian newspaper: Far from disobeying orders, I was following military regulations, which state that, in the absence of a vet, the medical officer should intervene...If the cat had died, the entire area would have had to be disinfected. What is more, the surviving kittens could not have been fed. So they too would have died and created an even greater public health problem."
In the process of saving the cat, Lt Balanzoni was bitten - something she told Corriere della Sera was "just a scratch" - and had to receive a rabies jab.
The prosecution argues that rather than preventing a public health problem, she could have caused one.
The trial is set to begin at the Military Tribunal in Rome on February 7th, with the matter expected to be raised in parliament before then.
Lt Balanzoni has returned to her civilian job as an anaesthetist, but told Corriere della Sera that her dream is to work again for the army, "an insitution I love...like cats."
"I'm living a nightmare," she added.
"I hope justice takes its course and that action will be taken against those who brought me from the base to the court."
ping
I remember my Father mentioning that their commanding officer once gave him a verbal reprimand for trading a German kid some candy for some eggs.
I guess rules are rules.
I can appreciate the concept of military discipline, because wars will be lost if your troops aren’t disciplined, but it seems a bit stiff-necked to end somebody’s career over it.
I wouldn’t want to be in a country where doing the right thing can cost a military career. I don’t think it’s good for morale to do that, not to mention that it is not good for the population at large either.
At most, it should have cost her a rank or points towards the next rank, imo.
I agree with you, the punishment is too severe.
The reason the army forbid trading for food was it could be poisoned and for some reason eggs were one of the easiest to sabotage. All he got was a verbal dressing down and that was all that was due for a first offense.
I read of at least 2 Soldiers who contracted rabies from adopting the feral dogs in Afghanistan, against standing orders.
Unfortunately, both were too far along for treatment by the time the docs figured out why they were sick. Both died.
Sounds like the Italians have a Frank Burns in their army.
What sort of cold blooded person would torpedo a career over Kittens?
I bet the clown who reported her really must be a real turd who was beat up a lot in school.
Someone concerned about introducing disease vectors into a mitary camp?
Not guilty?
Cats kill more of the mouse disease vectors than they bring diseases into camp. Even the ancient Egyptians knew that.
Farmers have barn cats for the same reasons.
Not guilty, but seriously... I am sick of these white framed fashion glasses.
Looks brass to me. < ducking > ;0)
Don’t those dumb Italians have anything better to do with their damn time than waste money on stupid trials like this one and the similar persecution of that American girl?
They are turning themselves into the laughing stock of western Europe - a MOST unenviable role considering the competition.
May I ask where you read this...?
Is this not silly?
I think it happens in America too.
It should not have cost her her rank, or points. It would have been ignored by a leader with any ability. This never should have even been officially noticed. Stupidity like this should hide it’s ugly head, but instead has become the norm.
The policy shouldn’t make it necessary for animal lovers to hide their dogs or cats. The policy should allow for soldiers to have their pets screened by veterinarians, and vaccinated. Troops can pay for it out of their own checks. These zero-tolerance policies are a pathway to failure, and often remove some of our best and brightest for foolish reasons, or even lead to death in the cases you cite. Leadership positions are so often filled with fools and sycophants. It’s a shame, really.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.