Feline warrant rescues ill cats

ALBION – Whitman County deputies served a search warrant May 1 to seize any and all cats from a home in Albion. Deputies worked with the Whitman County Humane Society and Pullman Animal Control to retrieve 20 cats that day from the home. Approximately 30 more were voluntarily placed with the Humane Society from that residence during the previous 10 days, according to a Whitman County Sheriff's Office release.

The Humane Society contacted the Sheriff’s Office about two weeks ago with concerns that there was ongoing animal neglect at the residence in Albion. With that information, and information directly from the home owner, deputies believed there were approximately 50 adult cats and/or kittens in the home, all believed to be ill or malnourished. During the investigation, deputies learned that more than 70 additional cats had been dropped off with the Whitman County Humane Society from the same owner over the past three years. In many of those instances, the animals were unhealthy and in need of medical care. That brings the total number of cats delivered to the Humane Society from the same owner to more than 120 in the last three years.

The warrant was issued by Whitman County District Court Judge John Hart and authorized deputies to secure all domestic cats from the home in an effort to provide them with urgent medical attention. Nearly all of the cats taken during this investigation were seriously ill and several required surgical care.

The cat owner is now facing possible charges of animal cruelty.