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Magistrates press animal-control staff after 33-cat house incident
Summary
Magistrates questioned animal-control response and capacity after a report about 33 cats in a house; staff said the county has no statutory duty to provide services for cats, offered trapping and adoption where feasible, and acknowledged capacity constraints.
Magistrates raised concerns after hearing that a Raclette officer reported 33 cats in one house and that some animals later arrived at a rehab center sick or dead. "He was told to open the window and let them go," one magistrate said, asking whether officers had been instructed to release animals on site.
Mike, an animal-services official, said the department offered to trap animals but lacked the capacity to remove that many at once and had been prioritizing a backlog of animals already in care. "We told him we could come. We could trap a couple at a time, but we told him there was no way we could trap all of them," Mike said.
The discussion highlighted limited county authority and resources: Mike noted state law and local ordinances do not obligate the county to remove cats, and that the department uses adoptions and foster placements where possible. Several magistrates urged better coordination with partner organizations and clearer guidance for responding officers going forward.
