Animal shelter neglect, 215 cats, dogs, more
River Falls, WI (US)

Incident Date: Tuesday, Sep 26, 2006
County: Pierce

Disposition: Dismissed

Person of Interest: Jennifer Kamish

Case Updates: 2 update(s) available

With 215 animals in the facility and no one to care for them, Wisconsin health officials contacted the Animal Humane Society based in Golden Valley, Minn.

Western Wisconsin authorities shut down an animal shelter in River Falls on Sept 26 after some of the 215 cats, dogs, rabbits and a ferret that were jammed into the facility -- designed to hold 50 to 70 animals -- were found to have ringworm and other diseases.

In addition, the shelter's manager, Jennifer Kamish, 41, was arrested on Sept 25 and charged with allegedly operating a kennel at her Newport home without a city permit.

Kamish had 53 cats and dogs in her house, said Keith Streff, director of the investigations division of the Animal Humane Society in Golden Valley.

She posted $100 bail and was released from the Washington County jail early Sept 26. When Streff was allowed into her house that morning, he described the conditions as odorous and "nasty."

Kamish could not be reached for comment Tuesday night.

The River Falls shelter was formerly known as the Pierce-St. Croix County Humane Society but closed earlier this year after struggling financially.

Kamish had stepped in, saying she had the training, experience and financial backing to keep the doors open, Streff said.

Kamish changed the name to the Cats Meow Dogs Bark Animal Welfare Society. Conditions deteriorated, Streff said, and he began fielding complaints a few weeks ago.

Authorities declared the shelter a public health nuisance and closed it, Streff said. "The public can no longer come in, the employees are no longer to enter the building, and it's no longer a functioning humane society," he said.

With 215 animals in the facility and no one to care for them, Wisconsin health officials and the St. Croix County Sheriff's Office contacted the Animal Humane Society based in Golden Valley.

"We believe it is important to assist local law enforcement and other animal welfare organizations when we are called upon," said Martha McPhee, president of the Animal Humane Society.

Streff and McPhee were at the River Falls shelter Tuesday night, working with a veterinary team and other workers from the Animal Humane Society to provide food, water and medical care for the animals.

"We have virulent upper respiratory infection," Streff said. "We have a terrible sanitary climate. We have zoonotic ringworm present and feline herpes complex within the population of animals."

Streff, who has led many such animal welfare investigations, said this case ranks among the worst he's seen, simply because of the sheer number of animals involved.

"This is a sad ending to good intentions gone bad," he said.

Wisconsin Health Department officials and the Sheriff's Office will determine what is to be done with the animals, Streff said.

Case Updates

References

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