What an appalling situation.

[jenluckenbach]

The rescue I foster for is in the process of helping a group of cats left in an abandoned home.

No one is allowed into the house! And the "officials" tell us the only way we are allowed to take the cats into custody is "if they walk off the property.". Well......they HAVE been! They are a very social bunch of cats.

But their situation is critical. The place is a horrendous, disgusting mess. and time is running out before they "will send someone to euthanize them all."

I have no idea why they will allow an agency to go inside to euthanize, but NOT one who wants to HELP them. But that is the owner's prerogative, I guess.

Anyway.......there are dozens! We have pulled about 15. And today we located someone who knew the former tenent who admitted to having 67 cats! OMG! How many are inside dead??

The bottom line is we (One by One) do not have SPACE (foster homes) to house this many animals.

I think we need a miracle.

[Catty1]

OMG! Can the police not allow you in? Can you not get a court order?

Get this on the news, and you might get a few more fosters in your area.

Common sense has DEFINITELY flown the coop here!

OMG....

[jenluckenbach]

Get this on the news, and you might get a few more fosters in your area.

THIS might be a great idea!

[Reachoutrescue]

WOW! That is crazy! I don't understand why they will not let people help these felines. I dealt with the same thing (a home with 37 cats), but they allowed us in. I hope it works out for you. You should absolutely try to go to the media with this. News, radio, papers.....word of mouth really does wonders. Good luck and please keep us posted.

[jenluckenbach]

I wish I could tell you that I understood these restrictions. But I don't.

What you need to realize for me this is NOT in my back yard. I work with a group where the majority of its members are about 35 miles away. I have not been at this house, nor do I even know what the local newpapers and radio stations are! I just foster the cats they have available and are in need. (and once a month or so drive the hour to an adoption event)

But these people have been doing this sort of thing much longer than I have. They know (I assume) what they are doing.

[Catty1]

They are likely REALLY up to their ears in this - how about calling them and offering to call the local media on their behalf? Then they can tell you who to call!

Heck, if I knew the name of the town, I could tell you!

(I love Google....does it show? )

[moosmom]

Jen,

Call the media NOW!!! Tell them the situation. Call every newspaper and tv station you can. That situation is horrible! Call every rescue organization and shelter there and in surrounding areas. 67 cats?? Holy $hit!!!

[Catty1]

And if members from all the rescues and elsewhere can show up there...the media will LOVE that. Even your local stations will know their affiliates in that area.

What's the town - Donna, do you know?

[jenluckenbach]

This is the most recent that I heard (via email)

Don't panic. We have reached the end. The woman said she had 67 cats, but there weren't 67 running around the neighborhood.

The neighbors have tried calling the local municipalities. They keep passing this off on the landlord. They are going to try again.


I have not heard from everyone involved yet, but it may not be quite as bad as rumored.

[AvaJoy]

Oh, yes . . . you must get the media involved/aware of this . . . I see cat hoarding stories on the nightly news often (unfortunately) so it is to the cats' benefit if their plight can be televised. Hopefully, as you say, it is not as MANY cats as originally thought in such a quandry, but still the rescue organizations will need all the help and foster homes a TV spot just might bring forth. I hope they will be rescued and that people will open their eyes to the absolute necessity of spaying/neutering. Keep up the excellent vigilance, Jen!

[Laura's Babies]

IDIOTS! That is simply and utterly outragous! Those poor babies!! Left to starve..... Heartbreaking.