Nearly every cat confiscated from Pueblo no-kill shelter has ringworm

On Monday, 135 cats were impounded from Steel City Alley Cat Coalition, a no-kill animal shelter in Pueblo County, after an investigation found evidence of animal abuse at the shelter.

Thursday, the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region said in a Facebook post that nearly every single cat taken in has ringworm somewhere on its body.

The cats were taken to shelters in Pueblo and Colorado Springs after an investigation into SCACC by the Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office, HSPPR, and the Colorado Department of Agriculture.

According to the post, ringworm is incredibly contagious, and is transmitted by spores. Staff has to be incredibly careful when treating the cats, or they could infect themselves because it can be passed from cats to humans.

This is the largest group of animals HSPPR has ever tried to treat at one time. Staff says they will need lots of resources needed to treat all 135 cats.

Every time a staff member enters a room with the cats they are required to wear a full protective Tyvek suit, boots, and gloves. Every time they leave, they must discard all the protective gear.

For the treatment, cats must be dipped into a gallon of water mixed with lime sulfur dip twice a week and placed into a clean kennel. Treatment hasn’t begun yet, and vet staff is still organizing all the necessary supplies for treatment.

HSPPR estimates it will take a month to six weeks to treat all of these cats, perhaps even longer.

According to rough early estimates, ringworm treatment supplies for each cat alone will cost HSPPR more than $200.

However, HSPPR says they need some community help. Staff cannot reuse bedding after it has been used by the cats. They are running very low on towels and blankets throughout the shelter, and could use donations.

KRDO Only 2019