Animal Ark Asks Animal Humane Society to Consider Non-Lethal Options for Rescued Felines
    The conditions described are unfortunately too common - large numbers of animal packed into unimaginable filth by someone likely suffering from a medical condition often referred to as animal hoarding. Generally considered to be a combination of obsessive-compulsive disorder and schizophrenia, animal hoarding most frequently involves felines, but has also been known to include dogs, rabbits, birds and even rodents.

    In some cases, animal hoarding can become institutionalized, according to Mike Fry, executive director of Animal Ark, Minnesota's largest no kill animal welfare organization.

    "We have worked on cases involving animal shelters and rescue organizations that have included many dozens or hundreds of animals," said Fry.

    The worst case he is aware of involved more then 800 cats housed by a rescue organization in Nevada.

    "There were about 800 cats held in a fenced, outdoor compound that had resorted to cannibalism in order to survive," Fry said.

    Fry's comments come after the recent "rescue" of about 100 felines from a mobile home in St. Anthony, Minnesota. The animals were taken in by the Animal Humane Society, which, according to many in the animal welfare community, is an animal welfare organization with one of the highest kill rates for dogs and cats in the state. Fry says its no surprise that AHS has said that none of the cats are likely to be "adoptable".

    "When you rescue animals from situations like this, you need to be prepared to provide them with training, socialization and veterinary care," said Fry. "And much larger rescues have proven that even some of the feistiest felines can become wonderful companion animals over time."

    Volunteers who aided in the rescue of the 800 cats in Nevada told stories of animals that, at first, could not be touched by humans. Over time, they say, they became friendly, sociable kitties. Nearly all of those 800 kitties have found homes, thanks to the massive effort of Best Friends Animal Society and a growing network of no kill organizations around the country.

    "If we can save 800 cats from the desert in Nevada, we should be able to save 100 cats from a mobile home in St. Anthony, Minnesota," said Fry.

    Fry's organization has offered to provide housing, veterinary care, training and socialization to the cats taken from the mobile home in St. Anthony. Animal Ark is awaiting a reply from the Animal Humane Society.
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    Comments from readers:
    On 02/22/2009 gary said: Animal Humain ????

    That term is so abused it's a joke We need to revise the word POUND because that's there mentality. AHS should be used were it is really run humanly. We should force these operations from using that term until they become "humane" to animals and PROVE IT....!

    On 02/20/2009 Yvonne said: How come...

    We can save cats and dogs from a state thousands of miles away (Katrina) but cannot save the animals in our own community? I do wonder if this had been dogs, would there had been more of an out cry? I know so many people who say: "who cares? They are only cats" those people do not know how great a pet a cat can be. I'm sure what was done was the right thing for some of them, but all of them? Shame on you AHS. Let's hope the attention this brought will help save more lives in the future. Don't take the lives of these creatures so quickly. Let them live and have happy homes if we can.

    On 02/17/2009 janet hoseth said: st anthony cats

    what are you thinking? you have over 200 adoptable cats in your facility,healthy and adoptable, but everybody and their mother wanted to adopt the unadoptable. sick, diseased and anti social, please think this one through, the humane society of golden valley did the right thing. why would you put these poor souls through some more torture and hardship, they are with god now. they are sooooooo happy. we will find out only when we get there.
    thankyou.

    On 02/16/2009 Julie Vandelanotte and David Browning said: St. Anthony Cats

    My husband and I were very angry that these animals were killed. We are absolutely confused as too why AHS does not return emails and voice mails after so many people want to help.

    Someone please explain to me how a kitten could posssibly have "behavioral problems"?

    This was very bad judgement on the part of AHS.

    On 02/14/2009 Marie Feldmeier said: The St. Anthony Cats

    I too have contacted the Humane Society, urging it to surrender the St. Anthony cats to Animal Ark. I also contacted KARE 11 News, asking the station to give the general public the information it deserves (rather than holding up the Golden Valley AHS as having the authority to simply announce that the cats are not adoptable and ought to be euthanized). At least, the public should know that there is a great deal of evidence that cats have the ability to heal from serious trauma and learn to trust and share affection with humans. It is so sad to see the AHS seriously underestimate the intelligence and abilities that cats possess. The position of the AHS strikes me as an instance of a more general phenomenon – it seems that when people underestimate certain creatures (be they either human or non-human animals), they tend to fail to recognize the inherent dignity, value, and preciousness of those creatures. And too often, this tendency leads to pointless, tragic results. In any case, the one good thing about this whole unfortunate situation is that there are organizations like Animal Ark and individual people like those who have been voicing support for the St. Anthony cats and offering to help – otherwise, the cats would have no chance at all to go on to lead full, flourishing lives. Thank you to all of you.

    On 02/13/2009 Colleen said: Cats

    I called the Humane Society and asked if the group I foster for could maybe take a few of these cats instead of putting them to sleep. I know for a fact feral cats can and do make good companions considering how many of them I try and do save. If we all work together we could help each and every one of these poor babies.

    On 02/13/2009 S.J. said: Good point, Mike!

    After hearing the Animal Humane Society's stance regarding the unadoptable status of the hoarder’s cats, in my state of anguish I forgot to consider how the tragedy is compounded by wasting the public’s good will. As many animal advocates are aware, when the public learns of a specific need they do rise to the occasion.

    If the AHS refuses to change their philosophy concerning this group of homeless cats and they choose not accept the help that is offered to them...the blood of these cats & kittens will be on their hands.

    On 02/13/2009 Mike Fry said: Thanks, Charlotte

    Thank you Charlotte.

    There is another sad reality about this. I will bet you that one of the reasons AHS needed to come out with the PR rap saying the cats are likely unadoptable was to quiet the people that are probably calling and offering help.

    If AHS played their cards right, they could let people interested in helping the animals do just that. AHS would have much less work to do.

    They could amplify the community's willingness to get involved and help by posting photos of individual cats on their web site and telling their individual stories. In my experience, if they did this, they would have more helping people than cats.

    Naturally, the next phase of the conversation will be for them to start blaming "pet overpopulation". They will say that too many cats are entering shelters, and there are not enough homes for them. I would argue, however, that if AHS will not give people the chance to take them home, the deaths are not due to so-called "overpopulation".

    On 02/13/2009 Charlotte said: good for you

    Good for you Mike for posting an article about this situation. When I saw the news reports and the comments immediately coming out of AHS to the media that the animals should not be considered "adoptable" as they were unsocialized and grew up in filthy conditions - I thought, ok, AHS already has their PR machine putting a spin out on the fact that they will most likely kill all these cats. So good for you for calling them out publicly on this - as a guardian of several formerly feral cats I know it takes time, effort, and patience, but these cats can go on to lead happy, healthy lives.

    On 02/13/2009 Eric W. said: I don't get it

    e g north - I think you are referring to this story at http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=539460.

    It is so weird. Animal Humane Society kills about half the dogs they take but are shipping dogs in from other states at the same time?!!!

    Weird does not describe it.

    On 02/12/2009 e g north said: Kitten rescue, puppy sales

    Maybe the AHS can use the proceeds from the sale of the 30+ puppies from Georgia it will be selling to Minnesotans to provide care for the local kittens so they can also become adoptable pets.

    On 02/12/2009 S. J. said: Please don't let them get away with this!

    They seem all too ready to dismiss these precious irreplaceable lives. I'm nobody special and I have seen several die-hard "feral" cats become the most affectionate pets. The cats are the innocent victims in this situation. Why can't they let these cats and the public decide for themselves?!?!?!

    On 02/12/2009 D. P. said: Sad

    Just saw the latest news online about AHS evaluation for the cats rescued from the St. Anthony trailer. Isn't it ironic that they are rescued only to be euthanized, when death is not necessary.