City Officials Remove 200 Cats From Shelter
Animal control officials, armed with a search warrant, removed 200 cats from a Canoga Park shelter Friday after complaints of animal cruelty.
Many animals were in bad health, some were lying in their own waste, and a few were dead, said Madeline Bernstein, president of the Los Angeles chapter of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
For the record:
12:00 a.m. Feb. 1, 2004 For The Record
Los Angeles Times Sunday February 01, 2004 Home Edition Main News Part A Page 2 National Desk 1 inches; 51 words Type of Material: Correction
Animal shelter raid -- The headline on a story in some editions of Saturday’s California section erroneously stated that city officials removed 200 cats from a Canoga Park shelter. The workers who removed the animals were with the Los Angeles chapter of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Bernstein said it appeared many of the cats came to Angel Puss & Pooch Rescue already ill, but were not properly cared for after they arrived.
Until pleading no contest in June to misdemeanor animal abuse for keeping 60 cats in cramped and unsanitary conditions at home, Marge Weems, 59, ran the shelter, which she founded in 1992.
Shelter supporters said the raid was part of a campaign by extreme animal activists who have picketed the organization before in an effort to have it shut down.
“We’ve heard rumors that we’ve got adult cats in small carriers
Supporters said the shelter’s work rehabilitating sick and injured animals lends itself to unpleasant smells and sights.
Bernstein said the results of the SPCA investigation would be sent to the city attorney’s office for possible criminal prosecution.
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