Fifty cats from one owner, most of them sick and suffering were recently brought to HAWS, the Humane Animal Welfare Society of Waukesha County.
The shelter is asking for the community’s help, and for residents to take action to prevent further occurrences of animal hoarding.
When is “many” considered too many? Animal hoarding, as defined in this circumstance, is when an owner/caretaker has more pets than they are able to care for properly. HAWS’ Spay-Neuter Initiative Program (SNIP) and Project Guardian both offer free or low-cost surgeries to community residents, effectively decreasing cat over-population.
HAWS stresses the need for community involvement to help eliminate future hoarding cases.
“People often don’t find out until the animals start to suffer,” said Lynn Olenik, HAWS executive director.
Rather than allowing a situation to become uncontrolled, HAWS and Waukesha social service representatives ask any resident of the County, concerned that someone may have too many pets, to seek help for that person. Reports can be made to HAWS at (262) 542-8851 or the Department of Health and Human Services at (262) 548-7212 or 211.
HAWS is caring for nearly 50 cats that were surrendered by a single Waukesha County resident.
Olenik says the shelter is “treating all those we feel we can help. Most of the cats were ill and suffering, and living in deplorable conditions.”
Olenik said that as the cats are stabilized they will be placed up for adoption. Until that time, the shelter needs the community’s assistance with donations of cat food, cat litter and towels. Residents are also asked to donate money toward medications for treating upper respiratory infections and for deworming, and to sponsor spay-neuter surgeries for these cats — all costly items for HAWS to sustain.