cat depot Cat Depot Cat Depot Dumps Unwanted Cats at Myakka Sanitation Site Internet
I recently learned that Cat Depot has decided to release cat depot cats to a 'rescue" in Myakka. Concerned that this was beign done with no publicity and without notifying Cat Depot customers, last week i went to investigate.
What I found was outrageous.
As you will read, no domesticated, indoor cat could be expected to survive there -- not with NO SHELTER, wild Myakka raccoons, snakes hogs, barbed wire fence and loose dogs.
I did not see a single cat or paw print in the area.
The property is located 35 miles outside of Sarasota and is the business location of Pit Stop Sanitation, a port-a-potty business. These previouslly INDOOR human reared cats were dumped into this area which is dotted with heavy machinery, large loose dogs and LOTS of barbed wire, high and low. Next door is a "Rottweiler on Guard" sign. I saw NO structure that woud provide any dry, covered shelter for the cats that were dumped there, and who previously lived in a 'state of the art multi-million dollar' shelter.
This is NOT a rescue, or a sanctuary, it is simply someone's rndom industrial site in the middle of nowhere.
I have asked around and have not been able to learn of any plan for continued monitoring of the cats' health, or even their numbers.
Cat Depot is simply DUMPING these "unwanted" cats and washing their hands of them. It has been learned that the criteria for being in the "unwanted" category is simply being at the shelter too long or being too old. Any formerly indoor cat would immediately run in terror from the noise and dogs. If a snake or raccoon did not kill the cat first, or run it into the barbed wire fence at night, it would die from thirst and hunger in the cold.
Cat Depot customers and supporters have a right to know what is happening with their money and their cats which they have entrusted to Cat Depot for safekeeping.
Please call the woenrs of the Cat Depot and ask why they have ot terminated their executive director, Shelley Thayer, and their shelter manager, Marilyn Warner, who both authorized and facilitated this cat dumping and betrayed the trust of the public and the cats in their care!
Owners:
Ken Slavin 941-504-6820 rkimball01@comcast.net
Linda Slavin 941-400-9493 lns3311@comcast.net
CatDepotCatDumping, Sarasota, Florida
1 Updates & Rebuttals
shelleyt@catdepot.org
Sarasota,Florida,
U.S.A.
The Truth - A Great Organization
#2UPDATE Employee
Wed, January 05, 2011
Staff and volunteers dedicate long hours every day to provide a safe haven for unwanted, homeless and injured cats and kittens. The medical and physical well being of every cat is taken into consideration. So, to read this anonymous email is disheartening, to say the least. If the person would have come forward to learn the facts, they would not be trying to discredit a nonprofit organization that has done and continues to do so much good.
Our center manager makes the decision regarding cats coming in and out of our facility. And, our adoption coordinator makes the best judgement possible regarding placement into adoptive homes. The decision to place four fractious, long term cats into an indoor/outdoor setting was made after months of research into potential locations. Two locations were viewed and not approved. When a local expert in feral and semi-feral cats was consulted, a new recommended location was interviewed, three times. Once, at our facility to review our policies (we honor our cats for life) and twice on the selected site location, prior to placing our cats.
Large cages were used to house the cats in the office for a minimum of three weeks. If the cats were not seen, it may have been because they were inside.
We follow up on every cat adoption and placement and the reports have been heartwarming. Cats who were once shut down are now playing, romping and enjoying life.
The cat care giver has managed her semi-feral cat colony of 20 for many years. From our manager: Two parcels of 150 acres (where the cats were placed) make up this working farm where there are 20 cats under the supervision and care of a longstanding and respected rescue worker. There is a beautiful home and office with a fence surrounding the property. There are no Rottweilers on the property. The acreage that is adjacent to the property does have dogs. There is adog that is contained on the home property but does not have access outside the home's parameter. There are also a couple of cat friendly dogs that live on the property. The cats in question live in the office. This is their home, and they are allowed to come and go as they please. They are well cared for, have fresh food and water daily and love - on their terms. The cats run and play and are having a better life than living in a cage.
As an organizaion we are dedicated to working with frightened and shy cats to help them overcome their fears so they can be adopted into a loving home. The four cats in question did not fall into this category. And, for the first time perhaps, since their capture, they seem truly happy.
We care about every single cat, young, old, injured and in good health who comes through our doors. We are a no-kill facility and we honor our cats for the duraton of their lives. We have placed very difficult to adopt cats into loving foster homes. And in this case,we placed four fractous cats into a home that works for them.
We will continue our good work with the help of honorable and dedicated volunteers and members who support our missionto save lives.