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A Saline County Sheriff's deputy met with members of the Humane Society of Missouri Animal Cruelty Task Force at the Sweet Springs home Saturday morning to investigate conditions there. The report regarding the animals originated with Saline County Division of Aging, according to the incident report.
While still outside the home, the deputy saw several dogs, one of which was lying down, he reported. He was told that the dog could not move due to injuries sustained in a car accident.
The deputy reported having smelled the strong scent of ammonia when he entered the home and saw a number of cats, including six sitting on the kitchen table.
"Several of these cats had matted eyes, running noses and were sneezing," wrote the deputy.
He also saw feces and scattered cat litter on the kitchen floor.
In the bathroom, he found the tub filled with pots, pans, plastic containers and cat feces.
One cat was found with "a large open wound on its neck." The deputy reported that the resident told investigators none of the animals had been taken to a veterinarian for medical attention.
Investigators worked to remove from the property all animals claimed by the resident, but were unable to catch two dogs. They also allowed the resident to keep one cat on the condition that the animal be kept in a sanitary environment and provided with clean food and water daily.
Several kittens were also seized.
While inventorying the animals, the deputy heard several coughing and sneezing, he reported.
On Monday, Oct. 5, the deputy learned that all animals seized had been euthanized "for various health issues," he wrote.
The deputy forwarded a probable cause statement to the Saline County Prosecuting Attorney's office.
Editor's note: Our policy is to withhold the names of people allegedly involved in crimes until formal charges have been filed.
Contact Geoff Rands at marshallreporter@socket.net
Comments
Gumby: If you have solid proof there is a problem at DOA, we'd like to see it. Contact any staff writer at the paper and we'll look into it.
workingmom,
I respectfully disagree, I don't think they do a very good job at all and I make no apologies to anyone for this statement.
I don't know what they are doing now Gumby-- no you did not hit a nerve and it was not double talk -- I just didn't read thru your initial comment well. I just skimmed it. -- I just know in general that the DOA people I have had the pleasure of working with in the community work hard for the people that they serve-- just trying to come to the defense of good people-- I don't know what the specifics of this case are but-- anyway -- I understand your points--- they are good ones--but I do know that in our region we have good workers for that department.
workingmom,
I thought I stated that it had to be presented to the probate Judge?? I'm hearing echo's here!
Being you know so much about this case, what action is the Division of Aging taking on this case?? It sounds like I must have hit a nerve. Now all I read is double talk comments. So please feel free to enlighten us on what that action part is by DOA???
FYI-- DOA does not make the decision to remove the people from the home -- I believe ( I hope I am right on the specifics) -- they report the info to the courts and ultimately a judge decides on the removal of the people involved-- and I would think that with all the red tape involved that it takes something like this happening to get the judge on the side of removing the people--
Don't bash Division of Aging -- I am sure that they have plenty of red tape to cut thru in situations like this and I am glad that they are taking action to work with this family as it appears it is much needed
ChickieMama' & workingmom,
Please listen to what is being said, IF THE HOME WAS NOT FIT ENOUGH FOR ANIMALS TO LIVE IN, THEN IT SURE ISN'T FIT FOR A HUMAN!!
I was not in this house, but I have been in several just as bad or worse. One was so full of Large dogs that the feces was inches deep on the floor and was running out the door. The lady had fell in the feces and broke her hip. When the paramedics attampted to enter the house to help her, they were attacked by 30 dogs that had never been outside. The Humane Society and I had to shoot and kill 30 dogs that kept attacking, just to save this lady.
So I do think I know just a little about these situations. My statement was about why the Division of aging left the person in the feces covered home? Emergency probate orders can be made by the probate Judge. Did they or have they even presented the case to the court? If not, why not?
ChickieMama,
After you attempted to chastise everyone that commented, you ended up making the same statement. I quote "Yes this iS a sad situation."
In your own words, how would you know? Were you there?
ChickieMama, Do you work for the Division of Aging? just asking? And the article says nothing else about the DOA, whoa...weird acronym, anyway. the question has to be asked if they were there and were concerned enough to make this complaint then why is the situation not bad enough for them to act in the peoples welfare? I am not saying anything bad about the DOA im asking a simple question. The health and well being of a person is entirely more critical than that of dogs or cats, please people don't yell about that, and was anything done about it? thats the question
Why is the Division of Aging getting picked on? If it weren't for these people going to check on them it could of gotten worse.
Has it ever occurred to some of you that you don't know the situation at hand? That you are only going by a few paragraphs and statements. Were you there? Did you see this all come about? Did you smell the ammonia from the outside of the house? Did you see feces covering the floor? Did you see the residents or the health that he/she was in? Did you see the animals and how bad they were? Did it ever occur to anyone that maybe the Vet, in fact, actually looked them over and made the decision to euthanize them?
I think you need to get ahold of the facts, and some realization, before you start shooting off your pearly whites when you have no clue about the situation.
Yes this iS a sad situation.
i dont know how i really feel about the euthanizing of these animals, i dont know what the health of the animals were or the cost of anyone to save them, i leave decisions like that up to the veteranarians that decide those situations. i do know that leaving one cat behind "under conditions" seems rather ironic though. this person or persons didnt collect 59 cats at once, they started with one and they apparently can't distiguish where the line is between taking care of them or just having them. with that many animals and no vet visits you know that the fleas had to be so out of hand and is a severe health risk coupled with the feces and urine. i don't necessarily belive animals have "rights" but they serve a mental and physical purpose as companions and friends to alot of people and if someone doesnt want to take the responsibility to give them care then they don't need 59....let alone 1
It's entirely possible that many of these cats were infected with FIV--similar to the human virus HIV. Like HIV, FIV is highly contagious and there is no cure. Like HIV, FIV will basically cause the animal to die a slow and painful death as it succumbs to other disease and vital organs begin to shut down. If this was the case, I'm afraid I'd have to agree with euthenizing the entire lot.
I have seen this on Tv on Animal Planet and I can understand where this begins. A person starts out with just a couple cats and ends up multiplying very quickly. They think they are really helping them by trying to care for that many. It is most common among older people who are unable to locate the resources to get the help they need or afford to spay or neuter their first pets. True, it is sad, but probably best for all the animals involved and the ones at the shelter waiting to be adopted that are perfectly healthy. I hope the DOA gets in there and gets this person some help and they have family to help, also. Older people are all too often left forgotten.
I would assume that the division of aging does not take care of the animals so it is no wonder they did not stay around to help take them -- I am sure they are not running-- and I think that it takes a judge's order for a new placement for the people-- eventhough we think they are mentally unfit-- the law may not-- at least not enough to remove them from their home and place them in an institution.
Where did the Division of Aging run off to?? They made the complaint. Why are they not working to get this person out of this enviroment where it appears the person can not take care of themself.
Division of Aging, where are you?? Sounds like you justed passed the buck and didn't do your jobs!
WoW!
Obamacare huh?
=-p
I think it's called hoarding. The same disorder that causes people to never throw away trash or pile up thousands of magazines in their homes. It really is a true psychiatric diagnosis.
omg I feel so sorry for those animals. They are the one's going to pay the price for a owner not taking care of them properly
Wasn't there anyway to treat their health issues?? It sounds like clean food, wholesome water and some antibiotics would probably have done wonders for a lot of those guys.
So euthanizing the kitties and doggies is the way to be kind to these kitties and doggies? Interesting.
Its simple, if you cant take care of them you shouldnt have them. Very sad.
sad