PORT ANGELES – Treating and housing cats and kittens once owned by Julie Yu are straining the finances of the Clallam County Humane Society and the All Animal Veterinary Clinic of Port Angeles.
“It’s a disaster that one person could do this to a community,” said Scott Chandler, executive director of the Humane Society, which has a shelter at 2105 W. Highway 101 in Port Angeles.
“What a financial burden this is placing on the clinic and the Humane Society,” he said.
Yu, 52, faces trial Feb. 4 on eight counts of animal cruelty, three of which are felonies, after about 31 cats – many of them ill with upper respiratory infections, authorities said – were seized from her Port Angeles mobile home on Oct. 10.
Some were pregnant, Chandler said, so even though some died, the number has grown.
The county Humane Society shelter now is housing 37 healthy cats, four of which are pregnant, Chandler said.
The clinic reports it has 16 cats, two of which are pregnant.
Chandler said he can’t have the cats spayed because “they aren’t my property,” he said.
Determination of the cats’ future awaits disposition of the case against Yu.
Chandler said basic care is $32.50 per animal per day, not counting medication for ear mites, fleas and infections.
“We can’t [inventory] it all,” Chandler said.
“We haven’t added it all up. We would have to sit down and do that.
“But it’s cost us thousands and thousands of dollars,” he said.
“I’d say we’d be pushing at least $10,000.”
Staff members at the All Animal Veterinary Clinic, which has cared for many of the sick cats, also estimated expenses so far in the thousands of dollars.
“It’s putting a real crimp in what we want to do,” said Dr. Paul Weiseth of the clinic.
Expenses include cat litter, water, food, medicines, vaccinations, cleaning supplies, lost boarding fees and wages for employees caring for the cats.
The costs are in addition to caring for the other animals at the clinic and the animal shelter, Chandler said.
He added that the shelter also has discounted fees for adoptions, so as to clear space.
Both the clinic and animal shelter are absorbing the costs, Chandler said.
