A group of angry “community cat” activists challenged the St. Charles Parish Animal Shelter’s recent removal of a cat colony in Destrehan.
At Monday’s council meeting, Animal Control Supervisor Jena Troxler said the cats were taken two weeks ago because a property owner complained about the colony, which authorized their removal. Some of the cats were euthanized and some held as nuisance animals carrying a $50 fine per animal.
Animal Control euthanized cats that had severe injuries causing pain and suffering, and those with irreparable contagious diseases, according to Troxler. Raccoons were euthanized based on state recommendation.
She said feeding the cat colonies also drew raccoons and both animals are known for carrying rabies. Several raccoons also have been relocated from the area.
Councilman Dick Gibbs, who represents the area, assured the group he wanted to find common ground on the issue.
“I know we’ll find a favorable outcome,” Gibbs said. “Jena is doing her job.”
Destrehan resident Jamie Scaffidi, who initiated “cat colony” efforts in the parish dating back to 2014, told the council taking the cats was unwarranted because area residents were feeding them, as well as having them neutered, spayed and cared for medically, including getting rabies vaccinations. Scaffidi said they were doing this at their expense.
“We don’t create the problem,” Scaffidi said. “We are the solution.”
She also maintained efforts to work with the animal shelter on saving the cats were rejected.
Maintaining the cat colonies – an estimated three or more in the area – is the humane way of handling these cats, she said. They are not feral, but cared for animals although many of them are free roaming.
Scaffidi said the colonies attracted visitors who wanted to see them in action, as well as to watch them play.
She maintained they had an arrangement with the animal shelter on keeping the colonies, such as providing low-cost spay and neuter. She along with other supporters intervened when told the cats were being run over by vehicles.
“We go away, cats will still come,” Scaffidi said. “They’ve been doing it 15 years. We go away, it’ll be a bigger mess.”Describing herself as a cat advocate since 2012, Donna Guillory of Destrehan, a member of Community Cats of St. Charles Parish, said she once held the parish as a model for managing cat colonies.
“Community cats have a right to their lives,” Guillory said.Beverly Waterman, also a Destrehan resident, said she has fed about 19 cats near Winn Dixie for nearly five years. All of them were spayed and neutered, and any kittens dumped there were found homes, Waterman said. All injured cats were helped at their expense.
Be the first to comment