Animal control officers seize 18 cats, 1 dog from Lodi home

Trista Aquino, a member of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, loves cats. So do her parents.

Over several months, the Lodi family has taken in two dozen stray cats and two dogs. They placed litter boxes throughout their house, and food for the animals was running at least $100 a week, Aquino said.

But after a "concerned citizen" called police, animal service officers responded Tuesday and took 18 cats and one dog from the home, leaving behind six wild cats and a dog.

The animals seemed to be in good condition and had food, said police employee Jeanie Biskup, who oversees the animal shelter.

However, they far exceeded city limits of five pets per household.

Police were first called to the 500 block of East Elm Street on Monday, and an officer referred the case to animal control and community development, Biskup said.

Aquino and several upset family members stood by Tuesday, as two animal control officers placed cats in individual carriers and loaded them into a truck.

"They're breaking up our family," Aquino said as she stood outside with a friendly dog named Spaghetti.

"It doesn't make sense to me that there's so many cats out there starving. My dad spent a lot of money to neuter and vaccinate these cats," she continued.

Each cat had been found abandoned on Lodi streets, Aquino said.

"We'd get a cat and say, 'We're going to help it and then take it to the shelter,' but then we'd get attached," she said.

Aquino found the animal seizure ironic, since she's a PETA member. She said she even makes copies of material about companies who conduct tests on animals, then puts the papers on car windows.

The residents will not be fined, Biskup said, but the animals were taken to a city shelter. At the request of the residents who wanted to find homes for the animals, the cats and dog will not be available for general adoption until Dec. 1, Biskup said.

Under Lodi city ordinances, residents may not have more than five domesticated animals. Domesticated animals include cats and dogs weighing less than 100 pounds and certain reptiles, such as turtles, newts and non-poisonous snakes shorter than six feet.

Officers could not catch six of the cats that were wild, so they were left in the house, Biskup said. When Officer Roger Butterfield tried to help catch one, the animal left scratches all over his hand that required him to hold a tissue to stop the blood.

Though some of the animals appeared to be feral, they were being cared for, police said.

Community Improvement Manager Joseph Wood commented that the animals got along quite well with one another, even though there were so many of them in one house.

However, the number of animals was taking its toll on the building. The house needs work on the plumbing and walls, and part of the floor was disintegrating, Wood said.

Plastic covered the roof, and paint was peeling off the outside of the home.

Aquino was concerned about the care her pets will receive at the animal shelter, and pointed out the small animal carriers officers were using.

The shelter, located on Kettleman Lane near Ham Lane, provides cages for the cats, and each one has a perch, food and water dishes, and a litter box.

As with all cats received at the shelter, each one will be vaccinated even if the owners had already vaccinated them. In September, more than 30 cats were euthanized at the shelter after a viral disease broke out, and it's a risk Biskup said can't be repeated.

The re-vaccination will not harm the animals.

If people find stray animals on the street, they may call the animal shelter and will not be charged for dropping off the animal. Employees will also pick up the animal, Biskup said.

To reach the animal shelter, call 333-6741.

Contact reporter Layla Bohm at layla@lodinews.com.

This story was updated at 10:50 a.m. Nov. 24, 2004, to correct the list of domesticated pets.

Reader Feedback

Comments on this story are now closed.

Archives

Story Tools

Indexes

Animal control officers seize 18 cats, 1 dog from Lodi home

Reader Feedback

Special Sections

Photo Reprints

Find Ads

Weather

Services

Contact Us

Office

Newsroom

Subscriptions

Advertising

Classifieds