When our Alberta SPCA Peace Officer first arrived at the suburban home, she thought she was at the wrong address. The property was well-kept and there were no visible signs that animals might be in distress; none of the obvious clues our team members normally see.
Then the Peace Officer turned to the home’s left. She could see three cats in the window of the garage. Her heart sank.
The property owner agreed to let the Peace Officer into the garage, and the moment the door opened, she was hit with by a wave of humidity. She felt her lips and tongue go numb from the stench of ammonia inside the building. The smell was so strong, the team immediately called the local fire department for help monitor the toxicity of the air.
While our Animal Protection Services Team is used to seeing appalling conditions, the situation inside this garage was beyond heart breaking. Cat feces was piled two feet deep in some parts of the building, and everything felt damp. Most of the cats were able to roam around the garage but several were confined to wire kennels and may have been for several years.
Collecting the 31 cats proved to be a challenge. Due to the ammonia level in the garage, team members could only spend three to four minutes inside at a time. Once they were all safely in our care, the cats were immediately taken to a veterinary clinic. Several of them required baths due to the amount of feces on their fur.
Our Peace Officers are trained to continue looking for subtle signs that animals may be in distress, even when a property looks good at first blush. These clues can include the use of air freshers to try and mask odours or animals peeking out from behind closed curtains. Many people who collect animals will do their best to cover up issues, but our animal protection team members remain diligent when assessing the situation.
Fortunately, we were able to save most of the cats in this particular case despite serious health and behavioural issues. We worked with our veterinary and shelter partners to provide the cats with the care and attention they needed so they could eventually be connected with loving families who can provide homes that meet all their needs. Every animal deserves this and we are committed to making it happen.