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Many of seized cats will be put down
By THERESA BLACKWELL
Published April 11, 2007
CLEARWATER - The fates of the 120 cats and two dogs seized in a condemned home on Union Street moved a step closer to resolution Monday when the owner of the animals signed them over to Pinellas County Animal Services. It was the largest number of animals the county has ever seized in an animal cruelty case, said Dr. Kenny Mitchell, a veterinarian and director of Pinellas County Animal Services, which took two dogs and 72 cats in the seizure. SPCA Tampa Bay took 48 more cats to its shelter in Largo. "Conditions were as bad as any we have experienced," he said. Mitchell said the owner of the cats had been spending about $800 a month for veterinary bills and to feed the animals, while ignoring the horrible living conditions for humans and animals. Five of the cats in very poor health at Animal Services have already been euthanized. And starting today, the county anticipates needing to euthanize most of the remaining cats that went to its facilities, Mitchell said, because of poor health or because they are considered too feral to be adopted. Dr. Welch Agnew, a veterinarian and assistant director at Animal Services, said the shelter is hoping that once some of the sickest are gone, others will start to respond to humans more and qualify for adoption. "Right now, a lot of them are just huddling together," he said. "They are still scared." SPCA Tampa Bay public relations manager Marissa Weeks said many of the cats they are caring for are elderly and have problems like upper respiratory infections, dental issues and behavior problems. But some will go out for adoption. "We will work with them to rehabilitate them," she said. "We're not giving up on any of them yet." Both shelters say they are bursting with friendly, adoptable cats and they expect more as the spring kittens arrive. Agnew said those might make better pets than the ones taken from the Union Street home. "Some of these may never get socialized," Agnew said. "They've had quite a bit of trauma and they don't soon forget." Theresa Blackwell can be reached at tblackwell@sptimes.com or 727 445-4170. Fast Facts: To adopt - Pinellas County Animal Services, 12450 Ulmerton Road, Largo, (727) 582-2600. - SPCA Tampa Bay, 9099 130th Ave. N, Largo, (727) 586-3591.
[Last modified April 10, 2007, 22:47:49]
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by katapalooza
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04/12/07 03:45 AM
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Too feral to be adopted?I'm sure that ther is a feral cat group out there willing to take these cats why is always the first act upon seizing animal is to put down the wild ones?
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by Gordon
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04/11/07 01:34 PM
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I wonder why this situation wasn't stopped earlier. Her vet must have been aware of the fact that she had an inordinate number of animals in her care. Maybe the vet liked the $800 a month. Does the vet have a duty to report perceived acts of abuse?
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by Casey
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04/11/07 01:07 PM
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Hey Ed. There feral cats. How 'bout we just dump in your neighborhood. My n'hood is crawling with feral cats. I especially love how they pee on my front door to mark territory and their blood curddling screams at night when looking for a mate.
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by Rayanne
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04/11/07 12:57 PM
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Lew, where is your common sense? Cats won. Have you ever seen a cat hoarder house? Guess NOT! You make me laugh!!
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by JAY
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04/11/07 12:52 PM
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I saw the animals and the are not tamed they act wild and hiss. The reason she had so many is because she thought she was picking up strays. But I am sure they belonged to someone. So sad.
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by Sarah
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04/11/07 12:41 PM
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"We're not giving up on any of them yet" and five of the cats have already been euthanized, interesting. Why did it take so long for someone to notice 120 cats?
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by Kim
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04/11/07 10:37 AM
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I'm glad that Animal Services "saved" the animals. I'm sure they would all rather be dead and are grateful for the chance to be euthanzied.
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by cee
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04/11/07 09:48 AM
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Some cats are very ill and beyond help Do we just let them suffer Do we let the poor elderly mother suffer Both animals and humans lived in FLITH Is it fair to them to live in feces The owner was NOT a good pet owner THE LACK OF CARE WAS ABUSE!!!!!!!
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by Ed
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04/11/07 09:23 AM
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"Right now, a lot of them are just huddling together," he said. "They are still scared."
Judging from the fact that they are about to be killed, I can't blame them.
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by lew
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04/11/07 08:48 AM
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Well, I see my first prediction was right! spca 1 cats 0. Now let's see how long the old lady lives.
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by louises people model and talent
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04/11/07 07:49 AM
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let's fix the problem of overpopulation
because euthanization is never the answer.
why was this woman ALLOWED so many initially?
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