"Rescuer" Abandons 33 Kittens in Ohio Metropark (Lake County)

**QueenScoopalot** · 10-03-2005, 07:41 AM

For whatever good it may do, a petition has been created to urge prosecution of this vicious woman.

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takea...128342783#body
And here's the post from the Yahoo group circulating the story...feel free to pass around to others.
It has come to the attention of several other rescuers and concerned citizens that Michelle Murray is STILL placing online ads. After dumping several dozen kittens in the Lake County, OH Metroparks on September 19, 2005, now she is "selling" and freecycling several of the pure bred adult cats in her care that she DIDN'T dump.

Please....if you have not signed this petition SIGN IT NOW. These cats are ill and she should be turning them over to the Humane Society, not selling them and freecycling them!!

Pass this petition around to everyone to sign. We need to show the judge how despicable an act this is and that with the charges she is facing she has not learned any lesson. With any luck she'll do some real jail time and think about her crimes against these defenseless animals.

It's been rumored that State Rep Tim Grendell is looking to see if this type of "abandonment" meets the felony definition of "abuse" under the animal cruelty statute, especially since the kittens were so sick.

So sign the petition now! Pass it around! Let's speak for the animals that Michelle Murray did not care could not speak for themselves!

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/394751062

Ads from Michelle Murray, links to sources, and known aliases:

Known Aliases:
mmurray804
zacky_haylee
murraysrescue
mom_490

In FreeCycle Lake County: ( http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FreecycleLakeCounty )

From mom_490@... Thu Sep 29 10:26:38 2005
Offer: Balinese and Siamese cats

Flame point Siamese 10 months old (very large cat), great with kids
and very loving. Can not keep any longer.

Flame point Balinese(long haired siamese) 6 months, also great with
kids and very loving.

Please contact me right away if you can give these guys loving homes.
Both males.

From zacky_haylee@... Wed Sep 21 14:55:01 2005
Subject: Offer: Seal Point Balinese

We are moving and can no longer keep our cats. I have a Seal point
Balinese (long haired siamese). She is very shy at first but give her
time and she will make a great cat from someone. I will provide food,
litter box, treats, toys, etc. Please email for pictures.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Freecy...y/message/6211

From zacky_haylee@... Wed Sep 21 15:42:07 2005
Subject: offer: flame point balinese

I am also looking for a home for my 6 month old flame point balinese
male. He will also come with litter box, food, treats, toys, etc.
Please let me know if you'd like to see pictures.

Sign the petition and pass this along! She answers to abandonment charges on October 13, 2005 in Painesville Municipal Court in Cleveland, Ohio.
http://www.painesvillemunicipalcourt...=&type=CR&acc=

***PERMISSION TO CROSSPOST***

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/394751062

Please sign this petition to ask for the maximum penalty that can be imposed by law against Michelle M. Murray of Murray's Rescue in Painesville, OH. Michelle abandoned 33 kittens in two Lake County Metroparks on September 19th. Rangers found the kittens in bad shape on September 23rd. The kittens were very ill and starving to death. One was dead on the scene, one was run over by a car, and several others have died or been euthanized.

Myself and several others recognized the kittens and the ID bands found with them from news reports. We had been investigating Michelle's "rescue" practices since around early July of this year due to reports of kittens adopted flea and worm infested, unaltered cats being adopted, and breeding of exotic cats. She was made a DNA/DNR in August for these reasons and freecycling unaltered cats. Our documents and pictures were turned over to the Rangers and the Lake County Humane Society on Friday September 23rd.

Michelle confessed yesterday to making not one, but two trips to abandon the kittens. Her reason was that she moved and was having personal problems. Below are links to recent newpaper and TV news reports related to the abandonment of the kittens, as well as a link to public records from the Painesville Municipal Courthouse.

On behalf of the animals,
Thank You!

Jenn
Gingers Animal Sanctuary

Newspaper articles:

9/29
http://www.news-herald.com/site/news...id=21849&rfi=8

9/23
http://www.news-herald.com/site/news...id=21849&rfi=8

Television stories:
9/29

http://www.fox8cleveland.com/default2.htm

9/23
http://www.wkyc.com/news/news_articl...?storyid=41145

http://www.wkyc.com/galleries/galler...y.asp?id=41146

Painesville Municipal Court Information on criminal case number 0502125:

http://www.painesvillemunicipalcourt...=&type=CR&acc=

**Laura's Babies** · 10-03-2005, 08:30 AM

MY God! These are just BABIES!!! I wish I could sign 100 times! That woman is disgusting!

**QueenScoopalot** · 10-03-2005, 09:25 AM

Just reading the newspaper articles about this scumbag made me boil! Here's a quote from one article...."The kittens, ranging in age from four-weeks to four-months, appear to have been well cared for. Some were even wearing bands and tags, when they were found." Four weeks old?????

At any age they should'nt have been dumped, but what on earth was this evil woman thinking? And the charges are 2nd degree misdemeaner

(Loosely translated=slap on the wrist)!

**Laura's Babies** · 10-03-2005, 11:59 AM

I think we should all line up to give her a full, openhanded slap on her FACE! (As we kick her with steel toed shoes!)

**just me** · 10-06-2005, 12:37 PM

You said it

**DJFyrewolf36** · 10-06-2005, 12:48 PM

Grrr...how can she call herself a rescuer?!? I agree, there needs to be much greater penalties for doing this sort of thing.

Some people should just be banned from going NEAR animals!

**davidpizzica** · 10-06-2005, 01:32 PM

I have a pair of heavy duty work shoes that I would LOVE to kick her with!! Also stand in line to slap her. I really think SHE should be abandoned in the park without access to food like she sentenced those poor innocent kittens to. GRRRRRRR!!!

**crazybirdlady** · 11-22-2005, 08:34 AM

I found this thread while searching on the story of the abandoned cats. I've been following it semi-closely, but had NO idea Michelle Murray had that many different user id's on yahoo.

During the summer sometime, I remember a "zacky_haylee" posting about having a litter of kittens that needed homes NOW or they were going to the pound tomorrow. I emailed her, and OFFERED to take them, even though I wasn't in much of a position to take in cats at that moment. She never responded, and I don't know what ever happened to those kittens. I emailed her several times with no response. At that time, and until I found this thread, I had NO idea that this was a "rescuer" doing this. WHY on EARTH would a rescue "need to take them to the pound"?? Not to mention, in her defense she stated she ASKED for help and nobody would. *I* OFFERED. And I'm sure there were probably others who offered as well. I think there's more going on than just her being "in a spot" and her "world crumbling" or whatever b.s. she spewed in her appology.....

**QueenScoopalot** · 11-22-2005, 09:13 AM

She sure makes persons who are genuine about rescuing and saving lives look bad!

Here's a link to what the judge ordered, which I think is outlandish, and should be added to! Nice start, but this 'rescuer' needs psychological help as well so she doesn't start all over again.
http://abcnews.go.com/US/LegalCenter/story?id=1322751
And look at all these little faces! The Siamese mix...any of them...who could be so heartless?

http://www.wkyc.com/galleries/galler...y.asp?id=41146
They're the lucky ones who were rescued again. Poor babies that were killed by cars, or the elements. I think it should be one night for every kitten dumped...and then some.

**moosmom** · 11-22-2005, 02:45 PM

You said it Jan. That disgusting dirtbag makes genuine rescuers like us look like fools.

A misdemeanor??? Don't get me started on those stupid laws. You KNOW how I feel about it and what should be done. I've signed the petition twice, once in my name and another in my daughter's name.

May she rot in hell. I'VE had personal problems too. But ya don't see me dumping cats in a park. UGH!!!

**crazybirdlady** · 11-22-2005, 02:47 PM

I agree that the punishment could have been more harsh. This judge has a reputation for doing "unusual" punishments, and he usually tries to make them fit the *crime*.

However, even if for only one night, I LOVE the idea of her sitting outside overnight tomorrow night. It is DARN cold here in Ohio. I had to walk from my car to my son's school just now and I sure wouldn't want to sit outside overnight. So, he's on the right track. And I bet one night for her will FEEL like 5. 6. maybe more.

And you're right. It makes EVERYONE involved with the helping and saving of animals look very bad.

One more question, if anyone knows.....the siamese or whatever she was trying to "sell"...she said in her ad that she had to "rehome" her own pets because she was moving. Why was she taking in rescues if she was rehoming her own cats??? it also seems that she was trying to "off" the pricey ones to new owners. The standard domestics got dumped in the park.

**davidpizzica** · 11-22-2005, 05:49 PM

Originally Posted by moosmom

You said it Jan. That disgusting dirtbag makes genuine rescuers like us look like fools.

A misdemeanor??? Don't get me started on those stupid laws. You KNOW how I feel about it and what should be done. I've signed the petition twice, once in my name and another in my daughter's name.

May she rot in hell. I'VE had personal problems too. But ya don't see me dumping cats in a park. UGH!!!

Donna, personal problems, my butt! That is NO EXCUSE to abandon 33 innocent cats and kittens to starve or be killed. She should be made to endure the conditions these poor creatures had to endure.

**moosmom** · 11-22-2005, 06:26 PM

Davidp,

I'm sorry.

I was in NO WAY making excuses for her.

I'm sure with all the media attention, they'll all find wonderful furrrever homes, and SHE, the dirtbag that she is, will get her comeuppance.

**pitc9** · 11-23-2005, 01:29 PM

I live in Lake County and live only 2 miles from the park she dumped the kittens in

Tonight Wednesday the 23rd she is forced to sleep outside in the same park she dumped the kittens in. No food or shelter!! It is FREEZING cold and snowing HA HA!!! Good for her!!!
After that she will be serving jail time. Here's the latest:
http://www.newsnet5.com/news/5388868/detail.html
I think I'll drive by the park tonight and throw snowballs at her!!