As I write this nothing has yet been done for three helpless cats caught in the crossfire of circumstances and bureaucracy. And if the apathy persists, these cats will have suffered immeasurably and eventually die in this same swirl of neglect as these local agencies go about their routine of passing the buck or the better one, “…we’re doing everything possible.”

Some months ago the city finally decided to condemn a property on Idaho Street, which was years overdue. The occupants scattered. The property owner has problems of their own and has not dealt with the situation.

But let’s back up just a moment. While the occupants scattered, not every living thing left the building and three adorable cats were locked in and left behind. Weeks went by trying to make local agencies aware of the problem. The humane society was asked if the cats could be brought into the center and cared for, pending changes in the present situation. Their answer was only if the police department does so. So the police were asked if they could crate-up the cats and take them, relaying what I had been told was necessary by the humane society. Their response was simply, it was not in their job description but that all of this should be taken care of in a couple days. Weeks more went by and concerned local people continued going onto the property, feeding and watering the cats so they don’t simply face starvation. But their suffering is intense. The smell of their habitat would leave the strongest stomach retching, they are infested with fleas and no doubt in need of medical help.

If those poor cats die, I would like the prosecutor of Pacific County to consider filing charges against the police, the humane society and whoever controls the property owner’s affairs for animal cruelty in the first degree. RCW 62.15.205(2)(a) states; “A person is guilty of animal cruelty in the first degree when, except as authorized by law or as provided in (c) of this subsection, he or she, with criminal negligence, starves, dehydrates, or suffocates an animal, or exposes an animal to excessive heat or cold and as a result causes: (i) Substantial and unjustifiable physical pain that extends for a period sufficient to cause considerable suffering; or (ii) death.”

Of the parties named above none are blameless. It would take only an hour at most for the police to go to the residence and crate the cats, then transport them to the humane society. It would take very little time and resources for the owner’s representative to assign someone on a daily basis to go by and make sure these cats are taken care of until the owner gets to a point where they can take care of them again. Or the humane society could acquire the city’s permission to enter the premises and take care of the animals until the owner’s situation changes. What is being done is little more than nothing. I’d like to see any of the responsible parties above have to spend a week or even 24 hours in the environment those cats are living in and then tell me that isn’t cruelty.

VERLA RAYBURN

Long Beach