DBA: Humane Society Of The Emerald Coast
Hoarding
LEGAL REGISTRATIONS
Sunbiz
Florida Department of Agriculture: CH30064
IRS EIN: 20-2875296
103 cats taken from Milton home euthanized; couple out on bail
Jul. 2, 2013
Nearly half -- 103 of the 225 cats taken from Milton couple’s animal rescue group that they ran out of their home -- were euthanized last night, Santa Rosa County officials said.
Allan Dennis Kirkham, 60, and Ella Mary Kirkham, 58, of the 4000 block of Bettian Avenue, were arrested Monday night and subsequently released from jail on $3,500 bonds after being charged with animal cruelty as well as health and safety violations.
The couple has been running a nonprofit, no-kill animal shelter called Kirkham Kattery Rescue out of their approximately 2,400-square-foot home since 2005, according to an arrest report.
The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office says they and other offices have received about two dozen complaints about the poor living conditions in the house and about the wellbeing of the cats. The complaints go back to at least 2006.
Their arrest comes in the wake of raid at their house Monday afternoon, when more than 200 cats were taken from the home.
County spokeswoman Joy Tsubooka said in a news release this afternoon that the cats that were euthanized were in a “grave medical condition,” and all tested positive for feline leukemia. Veterinarians are now working to evaluate each cat to see what diseases, if any, each of the cats has.
“With any intake of such a large number of animals at one time, the process can take several days to a week to gain a more accurate picture of the situation,” the release says.
Tsubooka said the cats from the Kirkhams’ home are quarantined in an area that will prevent them from getting other animals sick.
“At this time, it is too early to make plans for the adoption or moving of the cats to other shelters, those decisions are pending on the results of the more thorough health evaluation and veterinary recommendations,” the release says.
The county is asking people who adopted cats from Kirkham Kattery Rescue to have their pets examined by their vet.
The Kirkhams have said they formed Kirkham Kattery Rescue as a post-retirement project after seeing overcrowding at local shelters.
'Extremely dirty'
According to an arrest report, most of the complainants reported that cats they had adopted from Kirkham Kattery Rescue were later discovered to be sick.
“All the complainants that have been to the facility location report an estimated 50 to 100 cats roaming at large inside the … residential home,” the report says. “Most report that the facility is extremely dirty with feces and urine everywhere, there is an extremely foul stench and most of the cats are obviously sick.”
“Some report extremely skinny cats with hair loss, fluid, blood and puss around the cats’ noses, eyes and genitals,” the report continues.
In late May of 2013, an undercover deputy went to the shelter to adopt an animal, the arrest report states. The deputy adopted two cats that were later diagnosed by a veterinarian to have feline leukemia, respiratory infections, flea and tapeworm infestations and several other diseases.
Both cats were euthanized.
In response to the undercover investigation and numerous citizen reports of sick cats being seen on the property, foul smells coming from the residence and allegations of Allan Kirkham selling prescription pet medication and supplies over the Internet, deputies obtained a search warrant.
They arrived at the residence shortly before 2 p.m. Monday and found 225 cats in varying health conditions. The animals were removed and turned over to animal control for treatment.
86 seized cats euthanized - test positive for feline leukemia
July 2, 2013
Eighty-six cats were put down Monday night, following a seizure of what officials now say was 225 cats from Kirkham Kattery Rescue, listed as a non-profit shelter, but located in a residential neighborhood.
County officials say the animals that were euthanized all tested positive for feline leukemia, and were in "grave" condition.
"Under the direction of a local veterinarian, staff worked until 12:30 a.m. conducting preliminary assessments of the cats that were thought to be in the most dire condition," according to Joy Tsubooka, Santa Rosa County public information officer.
The animals are quarantined at the shelter, according to Tsubooka. "The current priority is a thorough medical evaluation of the remaining cats." She says due to the number of animals brought in, it could take several days to a week to complete the assessments.
"At this time, it is too early to make plans for adoption or moving of the cats to other shelters, those decisions pending on the results of the more thorough health evaluation and veterinary recommendations," she says.
The animals were seized following an on-going investigation where an undercover Sheriff's deputy went into the shelter and adopted cats from Allan and Ella Kirkham, the owners and operators. According to Sheriff's officials, the animals were immediately taken to a veterinarian, who completed a physical on each of the cats. They were found to be infected with feline leukemia, upper respiratory infection, bronchitis, flea infestation, tapeworm infestation and other diseases.
Sheriff's officials say Animal Control in Santa Rosa County had received numerous complaints about the shelter, including adoption of sick animals, foul odor at the residence, cats in the home which appeared to be ill, and about 100 cats free inside the home.
Over 100 Of 225 Cats Seized Euthanized; Couple Released On Bond
July 2, 2013
The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office and Animal Services removed 225 cats from a Milton home Monday afternoon and two people were taken to jail.
Along with Santa Rosa County Animal control, deputies removed the animals after serving a search warrant at the home in the 4000 block of Bettian Ave at the Kirkham Kattery Rescue, a non -profit shelter. The search warrant was executed for the violation of several animal related Florida statutes, according to Deputy Rich Aloy, public information officer for the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office.
Allan and Ella Kirkham were arrested on animal cruelty charges and booked into the Santa Rosa County Jail. They were released on $3,500 bond each.
Under the direction of a local veterinarian, county staff worked until 12:30 a.m. conducting preliminary assessments of the cats that were thought to be in the most dire condition.
Just over 100 cats were found to be “in grave medical condition, including all testing positive for feline leukemia, and were humanly euthanized last night. The current priority is a thorough medical evaluation of the remaining cats. With any intake of such a large number of animals at one time, the process can take several days to a week to gain a more accurate picture of the situation,” said Joy Tsubooka, Santa Rosa County public information officer.
The evaluation process is ongoing for the remaining cats, including testing for feline leukemia. The cats are housed in a non-public, quarantined area where all precautions are being taken to prevent the spread of any potential contiguous diseases to the shelter animals currently available for adoption. Feline leukemia, is one of the most commonly diagnosed causes of disease and death in domestic cats, and along with upper respiratory diseases, is extremely contagious and can be hard to control once introduced into a shelter environment.
A plan on how to move forward which considers the legal status, overall health of the cats, and general public safety including the potential risk of contiguous diseases to the community, will be developed based on the recommendation of a veterinary doctor once a more detailed assessment of all the remaining animals is complete and more information is available, Tsubook said.
“At this time, it is too early to make plans for the adoption or moving of the cats to other shelters, those decisions are pending on the results of the more thorough health evaluation and veterinary recommendations,” she said.
Feline leukemia can incubate for three months and cats can show no signs of the disease. The virus is spread through direct contact including grooming, fighting, sneezing, litter boxes, food and water bowls. It can also be passed to kittens through the mother’s milk.
Anyone who has adopted a cat from Kirkham Kattery Rescue is encouraged to seek immediate veterinary attention for their pet, county officials said.
Deputies acted after receiving information from Santa Rosa County Animal Control regarding heath nuisance violations, along with allegations of animals that were infected with contagious diseases being placed in adoptions.
An undercover deputy was sent to the home to make an adoption. The cats that were adopted where taken to a veterinarian immediately for a health inspection. Deputies said the cats were found to have feline leukemia, an upper respiratory infection, bronchitis, a flea infestation, tapeworm infestation and several other diseases.
