Anyone Near Bridgeport Connecticut??? HELP!

[QueenScoopalot]

Subject: CT: 30 Cats Thrown Out On Street Along W/Owner By Landlord!
(I crossposted this from a Yahoo Groups list I'm on)

From: DIANE L. COHEN


[email protected]


Sent: Friday, November 25, 2005 10:17 AM


Subject: Adela please read this


Adela,

I don't know where to go with this information.

I met a man who has an apt he owned in Bridgeport, Conn. He threw out a
woman
tenant who didn't pay the rent. She had 30 cats of all ages. Some
babies.

She "said" he called the Animal Control Agencies. Who knows. But there
are
now 30 cats..who we know will multiply soon..or just die.

He threw the cats out too!

They are all now on the Street.


I found the address out:


25 Whittier Street
Bridgeport,CT


He said he has carriers. But they are out in the street.


Can we make a mailing and see if ther are any recuers out there who can
help?


Please get back to me at 631-445-5383


Thank you


Diane Cohen

[email protected]

[moosmom]

Jan,

The message is dated 11/25 which was Friday. Are you SURE Animal Control hasn't gotten involved already? I live in New Haven which is about a half hour from Bridgeport. Anything I can do??

I can call my contacts at the newspaper and tv stations. Let me know.

Donna

[QueenScoopalot]

There's a phone # and email for Diane Cohen who may have the best idea of what's going on down there. What a terrible time of year to ditch housecats out..well no time is good, but with Winter looming...GRR!!!!! Can you contact Diane (who I don't know, but she's posted her # and need so hey)!

[moosmom]

I left a message on Diane Cohen's cellphone and told her to call me immediately. I won't make any calls till I hear from her as to the status of the situation.

I'll let you know what I find out.

[QueenScoopalot]

Another big THANKS Donna! If I lived near there, I'd be at that address posted getting things done in anyway I could. So happy for the internet and quick notification of things like this. Keep me posted once again and sure hope the cats will be OK and not slammed by cars etc.

[moosmom]

I talked to Diane Cohen. She seemed a bit "flighty" but did say that a woman in the building at Whittier Street is feeding the cats. I contacted the Bridgeport Cat Project and left a message to have them call me. Diane said that the landlord DID in fact, put all the cats out. They range in age from babies to adults. They are friendly. She said the landlord went into the woman's apartment and it was covered in cat poo and pee. Evidentally they never had litterboxes.

I am online now looking into other rescue organizations that might be able to help. I'll let you know how I make out. What a nightmare!!!

[moosmom]

I spoke with a woman from the Bridgeport Cat Project tonight. She sent a bazillion emails to all the volunteers at the BCP. I told her I'd help her in anyway I can. We're trying to find out the name of the landlord so we can have charges pressed against him for animal abandonment and abuse.

I gotta tell ya though, that woman Diane Cohen is a bit of a flake. She was mad because one of the women she talked to who was involved in rescue, according to her, "wanted to be in charge". She rambled on about how how she didn't believe that cats should live in cages. I told her it was much better than being on the streets fending for themselves. BCP said that they only put them in cages for a week, just to isolate them while they're tested and vaccinated.

I also called WTNH Channel 8 to follow-up on their coverage. They said they'd call me tomorrow and let me know either way.

That's it for now. Stay tuned!!

[QueenScoopalot]

Well maybe Diane Cohen is willing to take them all into her home uncaged until room is available in shelters for them? And sure hope she's financially prepared for the URIs that crop up from them being in the cold damp weather. She sounds like a flake, too bad there isn't anyone else to go through and get things rolling.

[moosmom]

Well, I think that a bunch of us are going to converge on the place this weekend. Since the cats seem to be friendly, according to Diane, we're going to bring carriers. Weather reports say we're getting snow on Sunday. I HOPE we can get them off the streets by then.

My roommate did a check on the property (it pays to live with someone with connections ) to see who owns the building. It's owned by a guy who lives in Stamford. The lady from the BCP said Diane is going to call her later on tonight with the landlord's phone number. This guy is going down for what he did to those poor kits.

[QueenScoopalot]

Way to go Donna! I'd love to know who the tenant who was evicted is as well...as she is going to start up the same crap,in a different location. And it's good to get incriminating testimony from the landlords mouth that can be used in court..otherwise well...you know how the court system works in America. Wonder if there's a form sheet that could be made up for him to sign? Something like I (landlords name) allow such & such an orginization to remove said cats evicted from property at (address)... The only way he'll get prosecuted is via some sort of document that states he threw out the cats etc.

[moosmom]

He CLAIMS he called Animal Control. But according to BCP, the guy never does anything when cats are involved but call them. Nice, huh??

[moosmom]

I got an update from Wendy at BCP.

Here it is:

"I went down to Whittier Street in Bpt this afternoon and met up with Evelyn from Cats, Inc. She has already removed a total of 5 cats from there as of today. They are tame enough to be picked up and put into carriers. After we got another one in the last carrier, she left and I was on the phone with the State. Lt. Perez from Bpt Animal Control walked up and told me that Kenny from animal control would be there this afternoon with traps and they would be there on Friday as well. The Lt. said they are going to try and prosecute the landlord who threw them out. I am hoping they prosecute both the landlord and the tenant. I am also thankful for the help from animal control since they apparently do not have to do that according the the State Animal Control Officer. If anyone wants to help trap, please let me know. The longer they are outside the less tame they will be, so we need to get them soon. Poor things, to be thrown out at this time of the year. The estimate is 20 - 30 cats total and after Evelyn left, I saw about 6 more who came out. The rest may have scattered, but should remain in the area if food is left out for them, which one of the tenants is doing and Evelyn has left styro boxes with hay in them for shelter. There was alot of inbreeding, so many of them look alike."


I've volunteered to go with them and trap the cats. I'll let you know whenever I find out something.

[QueenScoopalot]

I'm glad the ball's rolling now anyway! What's animal control planning on doing with the cats? Hopefully not snuffing them. I've been wondering and worrying about the kittens out there. I hope they're old enough to be on their own should their mother(s) be trapped before them. What an awful ordeal for the cats, but soooo happy somethings being done to rescue them before Winter hits. Thanks for the uppydate Donna!

[Laura's Babies]

WOW! This is so scarey and heartwrenching! QSL, God Bless you for posting about this and moomsmom, God Bless you for stepping up and helping out, helping to get this done!

[moosmom]

Well, it's snowing in CT (I love it!!! A day to stay in my jammies and watch old movies!!)

I haven't heard anything from the BPC. I'm worried about all the babies out on the street.