Constable Beth Richardson was greeted by cheers from animal rights activists as she headed into a police tribunal Wednesday.

The Durham Regional Police officer is being charged with discreditable conduct under the Police Services Act in connection with a January incident in which she removed a kitten from a drug user’s home. If convicted, the 17-year police veteran could face demotion in the feline fiasco.

“We believe that compassion should be rewarded -- it shouldn't be punished in this case,” Camille Labchuk, executive director of Animal Justice, a legal animal rights group, told reporters outside of the preliminary hearing on Wednesday.

On Jan. 12, Richardson was dispatched to an Oshawa, Ont. rooming house to check on the wellbeing of a woman “who had been using drugs for several days,” according to a hearing notice. Richardson spotted the kitten “cowering under a table.”

The cat, Richardson’s lawyer Joseph Markson previously told CTV Toronto, was “looking just ragged… really thin, very small, smelled like smoke, running eyes, and scared out of its wits.”

According to Markson, there was no one around in a position to take care of it.

Without informing the cat’s owner, it is alleged that Richardson took the kitten to a veterinarian for a check-up. She allegedly failed to tell her supervisors or document her actions. When the owner called police demanding the return of her cat, it was brought back on the same day.

According to Markson, his client rescued the animal with only good intentions -- and is actually allergic to cats.

Although Animal Justice applied to intervene in today’s hearing, their application was dropped after prosecutors clarified that the removal of the cat itself was not grounds for the discreditable conduct charge.

“Removal of an animal in distress is not discreditable conduct,” a joint submission between the prosecution and Animal Justice read. “In fact, the Prosecution's position is that police officers are required to preserve all life, including animals."

Richardson, however, is still facing charges relating to the incident. Prosecutors say the charges stem from:

  1. Failure to speak to the owners before taking the cat.
  2. Failure to inform supervisors.
  3. Failure to take notes.
  4. Failure to inform the appropriate agency.

Markson believes that Animal Justice’s influence fundamentally changed the nature of the case.

“I view that as a very good admission from the prosecution that they acknowledge that the decision to remove has merit and was consistent with her duties as a police officer,” Markson told reporters on Wednesday.

Labcuk agreed.

“This is an important precedent that the police have recognized that their duty to protect all life extends to animals,” the lawyer told reporters. “That’s very important and it's a victory.”

Richardson, however, will have to wait to know her fate. The disciplinary hearing, which will span three days, is scheduled to start on Feb. 7.

With files from CTV Toronto