All the cats are being treated for upper respiratory, eye or skin infections, and being tested for ringworm. Some are missing eyes or ears.
OCONTO - More than 60 cats were removed last week from an Oconto County home by the Wisconsin Humane Society.
Forty-two of the cats are now being cared for at WHC campuses in Green Bay, Milwaukee and Ozaukee. Another 18 to 23 cats – the number is not clear – are at the Oconto Area Humane Society in Oconto.
“Many of the cats are incredibly shy and fearful of people, having been deprived of proper care for so long,” WHS said. “They are safe now, but have long recoveries ahead."
Lori Nachtwey of the Humane Society office in Green Bay said most of the cats were removed May 31 by six staff members, two each from Green Bay, Milwaukee and Door County. The rest were picked up the next day.
Anyone interested in adopting one of the cats is urged to check the WHS website at www.wihumane.org/greenbay.
Some of the cats are expected to be medically cleared later this week, others may need weeks of care before they are healthy enough for adoption.
Alliance Insurance Centers LLC in Green Bay has offered to match donations for the care of the cats, up to $2,500. Donations can be made at the website or by calling (920) 469-3110.
Janke contacted WHS, which said they would take custody of the animals if the owners relinquished ownership, which they did.
Oconto County Public Health Division manager Debbie Konitzer went to examine the home on June and said a human health hazard was found.
“In this situation, the property was placarded as unfit for human habitation,” Konitzer said. She said she could not describe details of the conditions.
A letter has been sent to the property owners, ordering them to abate the hazard, she said. Under state law, property owners have 30 days to do so.
WHS said that anyone who thinks someone is struggling with animal hoarding to contact law enforcement, a local animal welfare organization, health department or mental health agency.