In the wake of an
”
extreme
”
bust occurring Friday that revealed an estimated 80 to 90 cats
were hoarded in a non-residential facility in San Martin, the Santa
Clara County Animal Shelter has skyrocketed into feline overload.
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San Martin – In the wake of an “extreme” bust occurring last Friday that revealed an estimated 80 to 90 cats were hoarded in a non-residential facility in San Martin, the Santa Clara County Animal Shelter has skyrocketed into feline overload.
The discovery was made Sept. 1 following complaints of a pungent odor surrounding the facility in San Martin, according to Albert Escobar, program manager for Santa Clara County Animal Care and Control.
“It wasn’t actually a person’s home,” said Escobar, who described the hoarder as an elderly man. “He had these cats in an alternative location in San Martin.”
Despite being beyond capacity, the county animal shelter located at 12370 Murphy Ave. took in 40 of the rescued cats Friday.
Escobar, who worked as an animal control officer for 10 years before he became program manager, said he has encountered instances such as this in the past, “but to this degree, probably only once before … I’ve had nothing to this extreme.”
Escobar said animal hoarding is a citable offense, but “what we’re trying to do is get cooperation to help the guy with his problem also.”
Officers have removed around half of the cats already, and are working with the man to slowly take the other half within the next month or so, according to Escobar.
“We’re trying to help not only the cats, but the person as well,” he reminded.
The shelter can comfortably accommodate 50 adoption-ready cats. It also offers another 50 spaces for incoming cats that are initially placed in quarantine upon arrival.
However, “we’re all ready well over that. We’re double that,” says Shelter Supervisor Brigid Wasson.
Prior to the surprise cache of cats, Wasson said their facility was already housing 160. That tally shot upward Sept. 2 when 40 rescued felines were brought in from the undisclosed location in San Martin.
The bump in house guests couldn’t have come at a worse time, Wasson said.
“It’s the end of summer. It’s kitten season. The shelter is already at maximum capacity for cats. The adoption room is full; the intake rooms are full. We’ve had to set up an emergency housing out back to cater to these additional animals,” she explained.
Indicating to an overflow enclosure set up outside in the unforgiving afternoon heat, Wasson opened up a makeshift kennel housing several of the San Martin rescue cats.
Some are skinny and missing tufts of hair; others suffer from diarrhea. All were sprawled on towels wrapped around ice packs to help the animals stay cool. Other cats are being housed in surgery kennels, which are normally designated for animals undergoing medical treatment.
“We need pet lovers to adopt these animals,” said Kevin O’Day, County Agriculture and Environmental Management Director, in a countywide press release that described the shelter as “bursting at the seams.”
For those unable to adopt, O’Day underlines fostering as an alternative option that will help relieve the overcrowding.
Wasson said her crew of volunteers and four paid kennel attendants are bracing for an additional 40 to 60 new whiskered faces, which will arrive at the shelter in waves over the next few weeks as spots become available.
“The first group that we took were the most critical to get out of there, as far as needing medical care and attention,” said Escobar, who said no police reports or criminal charges have been filed as the investigation is ongoing. He also said a number of rescued cats have been placed in homes.
When asked if the elderly man has been compliant with officers, Escobar emphasized the sensitivity of the investigation: “My officers have been trained in this kind of stuff. They can convey the point they’re there to help him, not just the animals.”
Wasson adds, “a lot of the rescued cats are in good condition. The person was doing the best he could, but some of them are ill. But a lot of them are friendly and relatively healthy.”
Strolling past rows of cages filled occupants, Wasson underscored the cornucopia of options when it comes to choosing a feline companion. She understands the unyielding nag to bring home an adorable kitten, but also reminds, “we have feral cats, we have fat cats and we have friendly cats.”
Both Wasson and Escobar stress an urgent need for food and toy donations, monetary support and people who are willing to take home adoption-ready cats. Adopting out cats as expeditiously as possible to make room for incoming rescues is one of the shelter’s biggest hurdles, Wasson said. As it is, she pointed out the shelter is already down one full time and one part-time position due to cuts in county funding last year.
“It’s not easy but somebody’s gotta do it,” said Wasson, opening up a kennel filled with a litter of dachshund puppies. “It’s been tough. We have the same space, less people and more animals.”
O’Day said the shelter currently has 230 animals, including stray dogs, cats, and livestock – some of which have been temporarily placed in foster homes. All pets at the shelter have been checked by a veterinarian for health and behavioral problems, while volunteers work with the animals to keep them happy, socialized and ready to go to a new home.
For more information, visit www.sccountypets.org.
A number of the rescued cats have also gone to Town Cats in Morgan Hill, a “no-kill feline adoption center and feral cat advocacy organization serving Santa Clara County,” according to the organization’s website. Visit Town Cats at www.towncats.org.
Santa Clara County Animal Shelter
– Visit: 12370 Murphy Avenue, San Martin
– Call: (408) 686-3900
– Donate on the web: www.sccountypets.org
– Volunteer: Orientation is held at 1 p.m. the second Saturday of every month. Volunteers must be at least 18 years old and must attend a volunteer orientation. For questions, call Shelter Supervisor Brigid Wasson at (408) 686-3901
Adoption fees:
– Dogs…$110
– Puppies…$120
– Cats…$90
– Kittens…$100
Adoption includes:
– Spay/neuter surgery
– Microchip ID implantation and registration
– Age-appropriate vaccinations
– De-fleaing and de-worming
– FIV/FeLV testing for cats
– A large back of Hill’s Science Diet pet food
