TO SEE THE REAL STORY ON Video, Click here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wcXs503GgQ
Scroll to the bottom for new updates
Marcia Mayeda
Director
County of Los Angeles
Department of Animal Care and Control
5898 Cherry Ave.
Long Beach, Ca. 90805
RE: Response to your communication of 10-22-08/ Rancho Cats
Dear Marcia:
We, at Fail-Safe, have spent hours upon hours meeting with you and your representatives in an effort to find the appropriate (humane) solution regarding the cats that habitate at Rancho and to address the complaints made by a handful of people at the crime lab and the day care center. At no time did we concur with you regarding their removal. Time was only of the essence due to being threatened by you and Mr. Knabe’s representatives that these healthy pets would be removed by you and euthanized.
Yes, you and your Department have offered a variety of resources to help remove the cats, however, in your letter you only stated half of the proposal. You omitted to state the reasons why we refuse the assistance offered. I will respond to your itemized list now as I have done at our meetings.
*House and Treat- The offer was to house the cats for a very limited time and at the end of their term in your facility (which would be dictated by you) we would be given the opportunity to remove the cats, if they were not adopted but could not return them to Rancho, otherwise, they would be euthanized. An absurd offer at best!
The shelters in Los Angeles, including yours, are killing tame cats and dogs by the thousands weekly due to no adoptions. I am to believe that these feral cats will be adopted? In addition, it is typical and common, as you are well aware, when cats enter a shelter, within days they come down with an upper respiratory infection which would compound our problem in taking the cat from your facility because now we not only don’t have a home for it but would be in need of vet care. This was an offer masked to accommodate your end but did nothing for the cat.
* Spay/Neuter-
The concern of the County was to remove the cats, the concern was not and isn’t their safety. That has become increasingly obvious. Should we have used your facility for spay/neuter, we again would have been faced with having to find them a new home as you dictated they could not go back to Rancho. A solution we did not have, so we were back to square one with this offer.
* Provide Crates-
*Post Signs-
*Find Homes-
*Problem Solve-
I would also like to add to your list.
*Coast Guard Contact-
I informed you all of a home we had found with the Coast Guard facility which would have been perfect for the cats and they would have been protected. The facilitator had reservations due to another organization that had dropped sick cats and they never heard from them again. We informed the facility they would be getting very healthy cats and we would stay in touch with them and help should any problems arise. You all agreed that our cats were very healthy and this would not be an issue. I stated at the meeting we were having trouble getting them to agree. Your representation stated they had firm contacts with these people and would be able to help They were going to contact them and work this out. To date, I have not heard from your representation on this matter.
Marcia, we have always stated we would be aggressive in our attempts to move the cats and we have been so. As you know, it is difficult placing tame cuddly cats,(that is proven in your euthanasia stats) let alone ferals. We have bent over backwards to accommodate the needs of all concerned.
The latest statement from Mr. Knabe’s office is that this trapping and killing is going to happen due to the crime lab and day care center having cat issues. There has not been any of our cats remotely close to these centers. When this issue came up, many months ago, we migrated the few that were in that area. Some we removed completely and were able to find homes for them and the other few were moved significantly far away from there. We agreed to board up the openings in the buildings adjacent to the lab and center to aid in making it not possible for any cats to cross over.
**IN ADDITION
As of today Mr. Knabe’s office is stating allegations of the cats being sick and having rabies. AGAIN ANOTHER BLATENT UNTRUTH. All of these cats have been cared for by vets, have had their shots including rabies. By your own admission, the cats are well cared for and healthy.
You and the County are beyond reproach when it comes to getting what you want and at any expense or truth. Spending County money to board up buildings, unboard them and board up again to what end. To spray for fleas over the complete Rancho campus in the wintertime when fleas are dormant.
All the time spent meeting with you and your people has been a waste of our time and County taxpayer money. Your end was to remove these cats at whatever costs. You are
going to kill these innocent animals and have had that plan since the beginning. All the so called avenues of help were only ploys to attain your end and the help was never functional help. This situation could have been remedied in the very beginning when we requested a spot at Rancho towards the Garfield end (which is the complete other side away from the lab and day care center) and asked if the County would fence the area in and we would trap and migrate the cats to that area and maintain them there. We were declined by Mr. Knabe’s office. Again, after several of our meetings and all this County money was being wasted on boarding, spraying and salaries, we requested this again. Such a simple solution but again we were declined resoundingly.
When this problem arose over a year ago, I sent a letter to Mr. Knabe asking for his help and assistance. NO REPONSE. I resent another letter after a few weeks had gone by and finally got a response several weeks later, however, it wasn’t help that I got. I was under the impression that your County representatives were there to make our County better and help. I use to believe the same of the Dept. of Animal Care and Control. I was without question, sadly mistaken. Of all the organizations, I would expect the Dept of Animal Control would know that a TNR(trap, neuter, return0 program works. It has been proven statistically and many cities have adopted this way of pet control and care because it works and it is HUMANE. It is clear that you, your Dept. and Mr. Knabe’s office are not concerned with what works or what is humane. Had you been so, not one of these casts would be in danger, they would be sheltered in a fenced-in area and cared for.
In all, from our prospective, it appears that all efforts on your behalf these last few months have been to, so to speak, get your ducks in a row to substantiate to the public what the Supervisors office has wanted all along. Disposal of these homeless cats. TNR works, your people know this and it is well documented everywhere! Should your offers had been sincere we could have made this a model for other cities to embrace.
We are a small group, no public funding, spending our off time from work, raising money to work a program that aids the City and the cats, and may I add, at no expense to the City of Downey or the County of Los Angeles. We have thousands of dollars and many donated hours invested at Rancho in an effort to do the right thing. On the other hand, you and your representation team have spent thousands of L.A County resident’s money involving 4 agencies, (Supervisors Office, Health Department, Dept. of Animal Care and Control and now the L.A. County Sheriff Dept) in an effort to eradicate these cats and this could have been resolved in the beginning with building a fence in an area that is uninhabited; unused and will be unused for years to come.
It amazes me that when the Downey Rose Float had it’s housing area vandalized, the County jumped to its aid and provided assistance at the County expense. Now we are talking about a Float. Very beautiful and something I support but it isn’t life. Somewhere you and your partnerships have lost touch with what is important. Although happy that the County helped the Downey Rose Float, how is it that you are willing to spend money for a float but not protect and find a humane solution for animal life?
I will finalize with our motto, although it doesn’t pertain to you and your partnership.
THANKS FOR HELPING US,
“WORK THE HUMANE SOLUTION”
Most Sincerely, Sheranne C. Jaeger
Founder/Director
Fail-Safe 4 Felines, Inc.
RANCHO
CAT KILLING STARTS TODAY
SEE THE TRUTH ON OUR WEBSITE
FAILSAFE4FELINES.ORG
DON’T BELIEVE UNTIL YOU SEE THE REAL STORY
CALL YOUR SENATORS
BOXER 213 894 5000
FEINSTEIN 310 914 7300
SUPERVISORS OFFICE
213 974 4444
STOP TRAPPING FOR KILLING
TELL THEM
TRAP/NEUTER/RELEASE AT
RANCHO
Update 10/25/08
I Helen Burns arrived at the protest, Rives Ave. at Imperial Hwy. at about 11:50 AM. I said Hi to all then started helping to set thing up. After about 10 min. I asked where are the News trucks. I was told they were over where the trapping was being done. Which was on the south side of Imperial Hwy. They told me Monica was over there by herself.
I decided to go over there and see what was going on for myself. I drove over to the area and saw the animal control turn on to a little side street so I followed. When I arrived I saw Monica and talked to her about who they had trapped. The Animal Control officer was just standing waiting for cats to go into traps. After talking to the officer he said one of the cats he had trapped was a lactating female. I said that was not one of our cats.
I said it was either a new drop off or even one from the Shelter it self. At no time did I see the officer try to find the possible kittens that belong to the possible mother cat.
So how is that Humane to let the kittens starve to death or be killed by the other cats because they have no protection? A new Mother would be very hungry and easy to catch.
Again that cat was not one of ours but the humane thing is to try to find her kittens.
Tonight we will be going over to try to find them.
The officer walked over to where some cats were sunning themselves. A sweet black cat was just laying there not afraid of the officer. He reached down and touched the cat whose name is Slim. He then went to his truck and opened up a can of cat food. He then went back to where the cat was laying and gave some food to the cat and picked it up and put it under his arm with the can food in his other hand. No gloves were worn and the cat was held up to his side. The Officer didn’t seem to be afraid of getting anything from the cat. He walked about 30 yards with the cat under his arm to the truck were he put the cat in a trap.
The officer then began approaching other cats that were just laying around in the shade with the can of food. These cats are very used to being fed by humans because we take care of them and make sure they have some food. Many of these cats will come right up to you for food but won’t let you pick them up.
The officer then packed up his traps and left about 1:40pm.
The mother cat will likely be put to sleep and the fate of her kittens right now is unknown.
My question is how was that HUMANE?
Helen Burns Failsafe4felines Volunteer 10/25/08
After the protest we went to the Shelter and bailed out Slim he is now in a Foster home.
update 10/26/08
A search was made for the supposed Kittens at Rancho, if they are there, we are very sorry we didn't find them.
11/6/08 Three kittens found an are safe, go to bottom of page.
On 10/31/2008 my husband and I, David and Linda East, with Fail-Safe 4 Felines, went to L.A. County Control Animal Control at 11258 Garfield, Downey, Ca to "bail out" 4 cats. 3 of these cats had been trapped by L.A. County Animal Control on 10/25/2008. The other one had been trapped by L.A. County Animal Control on10/30/2008.
We did the necessary paperwork and paid the fees L. A. County Animal Control required, which were $126.50. We were directed where to pick up the cats. My husband received a phone call, which he needed to take. I took 3 carriers to the back of the building where 3 of the cats were located. I waited by the back door, I was not allowed to go in. By the back door of this building, it has a sally port. For those of you who do don't know what a sally port is, it is a chain link fence attached to the building. In this case this fencing (chain link) was around the back door, totally in closing it. There is a gate, which you can go in and out of, but I was instructed to remain outside. There were 2 L.A. County Animal Control officers retrieving the cats. The first one was a lady.. The second individual was a man. He was dressed in blue. The woman was retrieving the cats from inside the building, passing the cats to the man. The first cat came out in a carrier. The man came outside the gate handed me the carrier and paperwork. I took the carrier to the car. My husband was waiting for the cats. I went back for the second one, same procedure as the first. I went back for the third cat. The women went to get the cat, it got away from her, ran into the sally port (the chain link area). The orange cat, which is feral, was totally terrified and scared. The cat climbed up to the top of the chain link fencing, hanging from the top. All this is happening in a matter of seconds. The women went back into the room and got a net. The man had the carrier up, as to drop the cat in once they got it. The cat was so traumatized; he began to urinate while hanging on the fence. He urinated all over the carrier, inside and out. They finally netted him. I asked that they clean the inside of the carrier, before putting him in, they did not. The man brought the carrier with the cat inside outside to me and I took him to the car. I told my husband what had occurred; we cleaned the outside of the carrier before placing it in our car. Oh, by the way during this ordeal with the 3rd cat the women could be heard saying, I thought I could handle the cat.
The story does not end here. The 4th cat was in spayed and neuter clinic, which is now closed. I was instructed to come back to the reception area and someone would get the cat. Because spay and neuter clinic is closed, she took me down a hall inside where it looked as if only employees should be. We went all the way down to the end of the hall, to last door on the right. I had my carrier, a top loader to put the cat in. This was a feral, female cat that had been spayed sometime during the day. The time is approx. 4:00 pm we went in this room. The room was not that big, it had rows of stainless steel cages some big and some small. They are stacked on top of each other, from what I could see. The female cat was in cage on the top to the right on the end. The women said I can handle her; I brought her over this morning. She didn't use a towel or net to get her out. This is a feral cat. As soon as she opened the cage door, the cat bolted out and ran to hide behind some of the stainless steel cages. The newly spayed cat was hiding on the window seal by the windows, behind the large stainless steel cages. The women was trying to get her, but was unable to reach her. Another a woman came in to help. She was telling a large dog in a cage named "Tanner" to be quiet. This woman was in street clothes. She climbed up on top of these cages to see where the cat was. The cat was back in the very corner, hiding. There was wooden pole, with some sharp things on one end. The women on top of the cages used the pole, I do not know which end she used, I could not see from where I was in the room. She put it between the cages and the window to try and push the cat out. I keep saying, "Please remember this cat just been spayed today". After what seemed like an eternity, finally they realized they could not get the cat out, that the cages needed to be moved. The cages are not on wheels. The woman in street clothes, got down, took the dog (Tanner) out of the cage to her car. The dog had continually barked during this whole time. They went out and got the man in blue that had helped her with the other 3 cats. All three came in the side door, and once the man in blue saw me, he told me to leave. I estimated this horrible ordeal went on for at least 15 - 20 minutes.
Approx. 5 - 10 minutes later the L.A. County Animal Control man in blue, came out to our car with the newly spayed cat in the carrier. His clothes and body were covered in dirt. The cat was so scared and traumatized, she was shaking. We put the carrier in the car, and covered her with a towel. We drove straight to the vet’s office to have the 4 cats evaluated. The newly spayed feral cat is still currently at the vets to be monitor for internal damage or any other damage was done during very traumatic and unnecessary ordeal the cat was put thru.
In your letter you requested a number to reach me in the event of capturing these cats and you would give us 5 days before killing them. I have responded to you and given you my contact info. (Info you clearly already have in your possession) Another non-truth !!! We met with you every time a meeting was scheduled. Whether it was downtown Los Angeles with Mr. Knabe’s associates, at Seaaca, at your facility, we made ourselves available to you and attended every meeting. Unfortunately, all the proposed help that was being offered wasn’t helpful. It got the cats out of Rancho for you but with no help to us as to an appropriate and humane place to do so. Yes, we talked about the Barn Project and you stated you sent out many notices. Several meetings later, you claimed to have many responses. If you check your minutes that were taken, you’ll also find I asked for the names and numbers so we could follow-up, make contact and further the process and you stated it would be emailed to me. Subsequent to that request, I sent two additional emails requesting the list and after some time had passed, I received an email of only 10 locations. We researched the numbers sent to us and found them to be unacceptable homes. They were all places which had coyotes running freely and the barns had no way to protect the cats from this prey. The cats would have been at risk and likely coyote food. This was not an appropriate solution. When we met again, I discussed this with you and told you of our findings so your statement of us making no attempt is just simply untrue. You are very aware of our contacts as we discussed it. Should you of provided us with addresses that were safe environments we would have been happy, thrilled to migrate these cats. We briefly spoke about feeding signs and didn’t find it necessary to go to all the expense of this program when it wasn’t an issue. Occasionally a passerby would drop food, thinking they were helping but this was not the norm. These cats are very well cared for daily with fresh water and food. I would much rather use the County money for something that was important and necessary.We didn’t decline the crates, Conversely, two of our representatives went to your shelter and inquired about the crates. They were dilapidated and dysfunctional in which some parts didn’t fit the crates therefore inappropriate for use. We didn’t have homes available to migrate the cats to, so it became a mute point anyway. We have used our own dog kennel creates for the cats that have been removed from Rancho. Should we have had more homes available we would have been grateful to borrow your crates had they been functional. We used specific vets for our needs. We trust them and they are very good at working with ferals. We have specific procedures done to ensure that when the casts are released, there are no complications from post surgeries. I am not familiar with your vet and frankly didn’t trust that you would take the appropriate measures. 
