Community Corner
84 Cats Rescued from Royal Oak Hoarders Too Much for County
If a qualifying nonprofit rescue group doesn't step up and take cats — many of which have ringworm — they'll be euthanized in 10 days.
The Oakland County Animal Control Division, which took in 84 cats rescued from Royal Oak pet hoarders Tuesday, is asking nonprofit animal rescue groups that would be willing to treat them for ringworm to take some or all of the cats.
The cats, along with seven dogs, were rescued after neighbors reported ongoing problems with pungent odors from the home in the 1000 block of Edgewood.
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Although police thought the cats were healthy when they were rescued, a number of them are displaying symptoms associated with ringworm, a fungal disease that is highly contagious for both cats and humans, the animal control division said in a statement.
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In addition to the health issue, the 84 cats have put Oakland County Animal Control & Pet Adoption Center over capacity to safely and humanely house cats, Bob Gatt, manager of the Animal Control Division, said in the statement.
Unless a nonprofit group organized under 501(c)3 of the IRS Tax Code steps forward within 10 days, the cats will be humanely euthanized as prescribed in an Oakland County Board of Commissioners ordinance.
“It’s not something we want to do or look forward to doing,” Gatt said. “But this is an unfortunate case of someone who thought she was helping the cats but violated the law and resulted in a public health risk.”
Public health and veterinary standards assume all of the cats have been exposed to ringworm, an itchy skin disease caused by a fungus. It looks like a round patch of red, dry skin and has a red raised ring around the patch. Sometimes the ring has blisters or is crusted with water or pus-filled blisters, according to Oakland County Health Division.
Successfully treating ringworm requires up to four weeks of daily treatment with an anti-fungal medication. Intensive treatment on many animals exceeds Animal Control’s capabilities to provide limited veterinary care, according to the statement.
Qualifying nonprofit animal rescue groups willing to care for the cats should contactl Animal Control at (248) 391-4100 or petadoption@oakgov.com.
» Photo via Royal Oak Police Department
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