Fred the Undercover Kitty facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Fred the Undercover Kitty
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| Born | May 2005 Brooklyn, New York
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| Died | August 9, 2006 (aged 1) Queens, New York
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| Cause of death | Struck and killed by an automobile |
Fred the Undercover Kitty (born May 2005 – died August 9, 2006) was a brave domestic shorthaired cat. He became famous for helping the New York Police Department and the Brooklyn District Attorney's Office. Fred's special job was to work undercover to catch someone who was pretending to be an animal doctor.
Contents
Fred's Early Life and Rescue
Fred was born in Brooklyn, New York in the spring of 2005. When he was just a few months old, in September 2005, he was rescued by Animal Care & Control of New York City. Fred was very sick, suffering from bad pneumonia and a collapsed lung.
Luckily, Fred was adopted by Carol Moran, who was an assistant district attorney. She took him in as part of a special foster care program. Carol helped nurse Fred back to health, giving him the care he needed to get strong again.
Fred and his brother, George, were named after the fun-loving brothers Fred and George Weasley. These characters are from the popular Harry Potter book series, written by J.K. Rowling.
Fred's Special Undercover Job
In February 2006, Fred got a very important assignment from the Brooklyn District Attorney’s office. He was asked to be an undercover agent! His mission was to pretend to be a patient to help the NYPD catch a man named Steven Vassall. This man was suspected of acting as an animal doctor without having the right license or training.
Fred worked with a human undercover detective named Stephanie Green-Jones. On February 3, 2006, Fred was the "bait" in a special operation. This helped the police catch Steven Vassall. Vassall was later found guilty of pretending to be a vet without a license and other related actions. He had to face consequences for his actions.
Awards and Recognition
Fred's bravery and help did not go unnoticed! On May 18, 2006, he received a special Law Enforcement Appreciation Award. This award was given to him by the Brooklyn District Attorney, Charles J. Hynes.
Fred was honored again on July 8, 2006, at an event called "Broadway Barks 8!". This was a big adopt-a-thon for dogs and cats in New York City's Theater District. The event was hosted by famous people like Mary Tyler Moore and Bernadette Peters. At this event, Fred was given the Mayor’s Alliance Award, which is given to amazing animals.
Fred's Future Plans
After his undercover work, Fred started training to become a therapy animal. The plan was for him to join the district attorney's office's "Legal Lives" program. In this program, Fred would visit classrooms to help teach children how to treat and care for animals properly.
Fred was becoming quite famous! His owner even received offers from animal talent agencies. These agencies wanted Fred to appear in television commercials.
Fred's Passing
Sadly, Fred's life was cut short. On August 9, 2006, he passed away. He had escaped from his home in Queens, New York, and was hit by a car. Fred was only 15 months old when he died.
