honda fresh car

Charleston Gazette-Mail, Pulitzer Prize-winning West Virginia news, Authorities seize more than fifty cats from Charleston home

Authorities seize more than fifty cats from Charleston home

After weeks of planning, a team of more than twenty people met Tuesday to clear a Charleston home packed with feral cats.

Unlike other efforts to seize animals, this week’s operation required more agencies to navigate the hazardous Kanawha City home.

City Attorney Paul Ellis said the possessor and more than fifty cats were exposed to high levels of ammonia.

“I suspect that there were good intentions by the proprietor,” he said, “but it’s just gone beyond their control.”

Neighbors complained of a continuous smell in the area, which helped lead to the team’s formation.

It consisted of police, attorneys and humane association workers, along with building and health officials.

“We’re not just here because there’s too many cats,” Ellis said. “We’re here because we have every reason to believe, and I think has been confirmed by the folks who have gone in, that there’s a real health and safety issue.”

Police and firefighters very first approached the home, located in the seven hundred block of Lower Donnally Road. They greeted the holder and emergency responders later took her away in an ambulance.

The Kanawha-Charleston Humane Association then ready to inject the property.

Humane workers joined firefighters in gearing up for the job. They wore white coveralls, rubber boots and respirators.

A past inspection of the house exposed inbetween sixty to eighty cats, said Jessie Shafer, director of development for the humane association.

“Our agency is worried with the cats’ health and safety, but we’re also worried with the possessor of the cats, and ensuring she gets the help she needs,” Shafer said.

Her team embarked by examining the house and identifying cats that needed instantaneous help. Shafer said they found one kitten dead in a freezer.

Everyone worked to secure and tag each cat. Several trips were then needed to transport all the cats to a clinic.

The humane association cleaned its facilities, moved about eighty existing cats and made room for the seized cats.

Shafer said the organization also suggested free cat and kitten adoptions on Monday.

In hopes of making room for the fresh cats, she said the free adoptions will proceed. The seized cats will not instantaneously go up for adoption.

“I think like ten people were waiting outside of our door at 11:45 today, and we don’t open until noon,” she said. “That just goes to showcase you how supportive and awesome our community is.”

Authorities had not charged the proprietor as of Tuesday. An investigation is ongoing.

“I think sometimes you embark off with good intentions,” Shafer said. “You take in several cats, maybe they’re not spayed or neutered, and eventually it turns into a problem.”

Shafer said it costs about $400 to care for a feral cat. The price likely will be higher for Tuesday’s cats.

Related movie:

---