Seventy-two cats were removed from a Saskatoon apartment in the 2300 block of 17th Street West Wednesday.
The Saskatoon Fire Department closed the suite after finding two occupants and the cats as well as a high accumulation of animal feces. The Fire Department was investigating due to a “community concern.”
Don Ferguson, Executive Director of Animal Services Saskatchewan says 47 cats and 25 kittens were removed. He says the animals were veterinary assessed yesterday and he says unfortunately they will have to be humanely euthanized.
“In captive small, confined spaces where we have a large number of cats we can get mutations of existing viruses, particularly upper respiratory viruses that then can become dangerous as I said if introduced to other populations. So, in those cases for disease control purposes euthanasia is required.”
Ferguson says introducing them to an SPCA or Humane Society, where they could potentially infect adoptable animals, the decision is made to euthanize.
Ferguson says the last thing any of the animal protection officers involved wanted to do was to remove or rescue animals only to have them euthanized. In addition, they had to take extra precautions due to the conditions in the suite wearing Tyvek suits with boots as well as masks with respirators to filter out contaminants.
There is no bylaw limiting the number of animals you can have in Saskatoon and while Ferguson would encourage all, whether it is rural municipalities or municipalities, to have bylaws around the number of animals owned, he also says animal welfare problems are caused by humans who are facing their own challenges and problems.
“People that follow the laws, don’t need it and people that are the opposite, won’t follow it.”
A statement from the Saskatoon Fire Department indicates that fire officials ordered the occupants removed and the suite not fit to live in saying it will have to be cleaned and sanitized as well as any other deficiencies fixed before the Fire Department will allow it to be opened again for tenants.
The occupants of the apartment have been rehoused with the assistance of CUMFI and the Ministry of Social Services.
