By HEATHER RUPPE
Colleton County Animal Services removed 49 cats from a local residence last week after being notified that the owner of the residence had been experiencing poor health and was unable to care for herself or the cats.
On Monday, February 7th, the county’s animal control agency received a tip that the family of the owner was removing her from the home and sending her to live with a relative out of the state. The informant, who was contacted by a distant relative, was concerned for the welfare of the cats and asked for assistance.
“Given the large number of cats, and to exercise safety in the current situation, authorities with animal control planned out the seizure with the family’s cooperation and recruited the help of outside resources,” according to a press release issued by animal control.
One week later, on Monday, February 14th, animal control staff members placed 35 cat traps on the property and began the process of trapping, documenting and relocating the cats to the county’s animal shelter, located at 33 Poor Farm Road in Walterboro. The cats were taken there for behavioral and medical evaluation.
“These situations are sad for all involved,” said Laura Clark, director of animal services for the county. “The owner truly loves these cats but because most of them were not spayed and neutered, a few cats quickly turned into too many.
“Now the county will have to bear the burden of caring for the cats until it can be determined if they are adoptable or not,” she said. “Several have already tested positive for Fiv, a contagious and deadly feline disease and are not able to be placed for adoption.”
There is an ordinance in Colleton County related to hoarding. The ordinance states that having animals is defined as hoarding when 23 or more domestic animals are coupled with an inability by the owner to properly care for them.
“In this case it clearly met the conditions, but we allowed the owner to surrender the animals in lieu of prosecution,” said Clark, adding that this is what was best for the animals and for the owner, who was cooperating with authorities.
This way, we can “… immediately allows us to start making decisions about outcomes for the animals rather than having to wait for a court decision,” she said.
Clark also praised the animal services staff for the execution of the seizure and care of such a large group of cats.
According to her, local animal services’ authorities received assistance from No Kill South Carolina and Charleston Animal Society with cat traps and with potentially placing some of the healthy, friendly cats into homes, she said.
Unfortunately, this comes at a time when the shelter already has an overabundance of cats looking for forever homes.
Friends of Colleton County Animal Services offers spay/neuter of cats and dogs at a reduced rate.
More information can be found at foccas-sc.org or call the Animal Shelter at 843-893-2651.
