Humane Society euthanizes nearly 40 cats seized from Security home

(WEDNESDAY)

The Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region said 37 cats that were removed from a home in Security-Widefield on Tuesday have been put down.

The number of cats was revised from an earlier estimate of 40 or more. The Society also confirmed finding 23 dead cats, including three under a refrigerator.

HSPPR said its veterinarians were up examining the cats until 11 p.m. Tuesday, and that the cats were suffering from severe, bleeding oral ulcers, upper respiratory symptoms, conjunctivitis, depression, and weight loss — all symptoms of the feline calicivirus.

Calicivirus is highly contagious and therefore a common disease in groups of cats housed together. The symptoms cause extreme pain and discomfort in an infected cat.

HSPPR says feline calicivirus is considered to be one of the most challenging disease outbreaks to manage in a shelter. It is very hard to kill and is resistant to many commonly used disinfectants.

All exposed cats are considered at risk for transmitting severe disease, and there is no clearly defined quarantine period due to the unknown length of disease shedding. Infected cats can shed for up 75 days after acute infection.

However, calicivirus is often chronic; some cats can shed for their entire lives. For these reasons, the entire group of cats was considered at risk, as many were already suffering from active, apparent infection. The virus is preventable and there is a vaccine available.

“(This case was) totally preventible,” said Joe Stafford, director of animal law enforcement for the Humane Society. “This is a situation where a vaccine could have prevented these cats from contracting this disease.”

Stafford said when the Humane Society became aware of the number of cats several weeks ago, officers tried to talk with the owner, Dennis Craven.

“We asked him to allow us inside the home to see the cats and ask him if he needed help,” Stafford said. “He wasn’t cooperative, so we got a search warrant.”

Stafford called the case one of the worst he’s had in 26 years of law enforcement.

“It was hard for me to sleep last night,” he said. “I was worried about the cats and about Craven’s health.”

Stafford said the investigation will determine if Craven knowingly kept an illegal number of cats who had an untreated infectious disease. Depending on the result, Craven who could be charged with a misdemeanor or felony count of animal cruelty.

“What was his intent, that’s what we need to know,” Stafford said.

Doug Johnson, one of Craven’s next-door neighbors, said he got two of his three cats from Craven and is worried about what happens next.

“Because of the dead animal carcasses and the feces in there, I’m worried that the house is contaminated,” Johnson said. “I’m willing to help (Craven) clean up. Somebody needs to help this guy.”

Stafford said the Society has contacted the El Paso County Health Department and the Department of Human Services to evaluate whether Craven’s house should be condemned and he should live elsewhere.

“This case is an example of why your pets should see a vet regularly, and why a situation like this should be reported as soon as possible,” Stafford said. “Then we can intervene in a meaningful way. This may have been going on for several years.”

The Society also provided video of the house’s interior, showing large amounts of feces and urine on the floor. The video appears to show that Craven kept most of the cats separate from rooms that he occupied.

(TUESDAY)

The cats were taken from a home in the 300 block of Pecos Drive, which is in a neighborhood south of the intersection of Main Street and Bradley Road.

Joe Stafford, director of Animal Law Enforcement for the Pikes Peak Humane Society, said his officers removed the cats because the owner, Dennis Craven, had more than the limit of four.

Stafford also said some neighbors had complained about a foul smell and that officers were concerned about Craven’s health living with so many cats.

“We’ve been talking with him for several weeks trying to resolve the situation,” Stafford said. “We finally had to take action.”

A group of officers wore hazmat suits as they entered the home and removed the cats, one by one, in cages. One officer said the smell “made his eyes water.”

After the cats were identified and briefly inspected, they were placed in cages and driven to the Humane Society for further examination. The process took several hours.

Craven was present when his cats were seized but declined to be interviewed. It’s unclear whether he’ll continue to live in his home, or face charges or citations.

Douglas Johnson, who has lived next door to Craven since 1978, said he was surprised to learn of the large number of cats.

“I didn’t see, hear or smell anything unusual,” Johnson said. “I thought he had maybe eight cats. I asked if I could help him with them. I think it’s a situation that just got out of hand.”

Dwight Roberts, another neighbor, agreed with Johnson.

“I was aware he had multiple cats from rumors by other neighbors,” Roberts said. “I noticed the smell.”