WAAAAAY too many animals!

This is the second time I`m writing this post...I don`t know what happened to the first one, but it did`nt appear as a new thread anywhere that i could find...so if you read it someplace else...that is why you are seeing it again.
I`m DESPERTLY needing some help here.
I usually stay out of other peoples business BUT...here is the senerio and i`m being "generic" in what I say, just in case she would be someone who posts here and recognise herself.)
A neighbor with a small home, with SEVERAL kids, and at least 40 animals!
In her defence, I do think that she is "slow"....so I believe that she thinks she "loves" and is "caring for " her pets. (I did`nt know she had so many til very receintly either, as I had`nt been "up there" to her place until a few days ago...and I`ve not been inside her home...so there may be more than I have already counted from the outside of her place)
They do feed their animals...but that is all. I`ve been told there is no $ for vet bills....which I`m sure is true.
This morning, before my hubby left for work, we heard a terrible crying on the front porch. When I opened the door one of her cats was on our step in HORRIBLE condition! This is an older, momma cat that they have let run and have litter after litter of kittens. I know because I would see her getting bigger and bigger PG...and then when she would be nursing she`d come down here for extra food.
I have`nt seen her in several months now.....not since spring when she had her last (that I know of) batch of babies.
This morning she was covered with huge ...and I do mean HUGE...tumors. Glassy eyes, not able to even stand (oh Gog! She probably laid there allnight in the cold! I can`t stand to even think of it!) The only place I could even pet her was the top of her head without her yowling in pain. I can`t believe she even managed to purr when I petted her head.
Now, PLEASE do not attack me for what i`m going to say next...I could not stand it one second longer...and it was the only choice...but I had my hubby "put her down" and bury her before he left for work. I`m crying as I write this...and feel absolutly sick. He was totally "P***ed off" that anyone would let an animal get in this kind of condition. (He is a hunter, and a good shot...so I know that she did`nt feel a thing...and we both felt that it was more humane than making her wait for hours til the vet opens and then have to make her make the journey there to be put down.)
I NEED to know of some place to call that can help. Hopefully someone who does not have to mention who made the report....we don`t want to make enemies of our neighbors....but it needs to be checked out and probably most or all of the animals taken away....and someone who can check back and make sure they are not "collecting" more later.
The only place I know of is the pound and I`m sure it is not a "no kill".
PLEASE somebody has to know someone I can call....????
Thank you in advance for any info you can give.
Linda

Oh...and I don`t want to mention about the kitty that my hubby had to "take care of" this morning....I`m sure we mightbe able to get into trouble for making that decision for someone elses pet....although, on second thought....with no vet bill $ to evenget their animals fixed...i doubt they could afford to sue us either.
Come to think of it...I guess i don`t even care. We did`nt feel we had a choice.

Sounds like you had to make a very hard decision...I applaud you for having the courage and compassion to make this decsion. I know how very hard it must of been for you. NO animal should have to suffer like this poor kitty was...
Some one has to step up to the plate and inform the proper authorities about this household of uncared for animals.Unfortunately it looks like it going to have to be you..
I think what I would do is go into in person your local police department and tell them what is going on and ask them what should be done. I would not mention the kitty you had to put down...Either they will check into this or they will point you in the right direction on who should investigate this.
Don't beat yourself up about what your hubby had to do for the kitty..Shes in a much better place now.. And no longer suffering.
Good luck to you... Sounds like this lady is a animal hoarder... Keep us up to date on whats going on with this situation..

Thanks Garden and cats...I would`nt have thought of calling the police. Will do so right now....I hope they can help me find someone to help.

How terrible for you.... What a horrible burden to have to bear... I hope you are able to work something out for those animals... There have been quite a few hoarder stories in the news lately... Good luck with the situation

Well...I`m not sure where to go now.
I was told to call Animal Contol for this area...so I obtained that # and did just that, just to be told that there is nothing that can be done about the outside animals unless they are on our property causing a problem.
I guess it is not agaisnt the law here to hoard them and let them keep multiplying.
I told the woman that I spoke with that , even though it is "out in the country" and does`nt really look like it, that this is considered a sub division....and I think that there may be a clause stating no farm animals. She suggested I call the township to ask. I`ve tried, but only got a recording to leave a message...but did`nt want to leave my name....and maybe it is still too early to call there....I`ll try again later.
They also said I should call the health dept ...that will all those kids it may be an unhealthy environment for the children (Well, no DUHHH on that one!) I tried there and also got a message machine wanting me to leave a message....so guess I`ll have to write out what I want to say and give good directions for them to find this place. I really wanted to TALK with someone so I could be sure somebody was going to do SOMETHING and to let them know that I am not just a mean neighbor who wants to cause problems.
Of course I want the kids to be healthy .....but I also want something done for the animals too. I can`t believe a person ,that can`t take care of them properly ,would be allowed to have so many!!!!

Are there any low-cost spay/neuter clinics in your area? Or is there a rescue with nice people who would help out in getting the animals speutered, and some rehomed?

I'm sorry about the cat your dh had to shoot. What an awful thing! But she is lucky you and he had the sense and the ability to end her pain. I agree with you, not to mention it to anyone local!

stampit3d...you are in a very tough situation. If Animal Control will not assist the best thing you can do is to reach out to an organization that has familiarity with working with individuals who have large numbers of animals. I would really suggest contacting some TNR groups in your state and seeing if they can assist you:

http://www.alleycat.org/orgs.html#mi

Thanks all of you for the info. I have been on the phone all morning....getting not too far except to have someone check out the home for the kids sake. I`m glad for that...but sure hope I can find someone who will do something about the animals.
I will check out the sights you have given me and see if there is anyone I can call and get something done. The weather is cold here today...and winter is coming...I`m sure there are many animals who suffer greatly through the winter months from the cold and hunger and it makes me sick!
I`ll keep you posted as to what I find out. And thanks again...it`s great to have somewhere to turn to. I`d have really been in a tizzy without this sight to go to.

stampit3d..have you approached the owner to see if she would like to reduce the number of her animals and have them spayed??? Sometimes, people feel they are doing the right thing because they are concerned the animals will be PTS if they give them to the shelter. Perhaps you can work with the neighbor to try to raise funds to spay/neuter a few animals at a time and try to rehome a few.

Katie

I have approached her about getting her animals fixed...but she just says they can`t afford it. I can not help her financially, or I would...except that then she`d just bring in more and more i`m afraid. It could be a never ending story.....and even if I could help her find a few people who might pay for a few of the animals to be fixed, they would not pay for so many just to know that she is goingto keep doing this.
I`ve made so many calls already this morning and am getting so frustrated with it and my blood sugar is starting to spike! I`ve had to leave messages every single place I`ve called. I hate those automated things! Does`nt anybody anser their phones anymore???

Most organizations have answering machines because they have to return your calls when they are available. Many rescuers hold regular jobs....many shelters have to hold adoptions, feed the animals, take owner give ups etc. I understand your frustration...but you must give people a chance to do their jobs.

Katie

Well....I finally got someone that is going to start some process into checking this out. She has a meeting coming up at the township hall tomorrow night and she wrote down all the information that I gave her. I was on the phone with her for over an hour! She said she is pretty sure there are some zoning laws that will pertain to having this many animals... she knows the guy that will be coming to check it out, and she says that he is dependable....and she is going to call me back and let me know what they say at the meeting.
If there are further problems that he suspects , such as anything that would concern the health of the children he will contact the health department...and if she can not prove that she is homeschooling the kids (she says she is...but I`m not so sure) then he will alert the proper authorities.
I told her I would hope if they have to remove the animals that they would do what they could to see that they were not destroyed. ...and she said they usually have places that they can be fostered out (at least some of the cats. They may let them keep some of them and probably the dog....but she could`nt guarntee the farm type animals...she just did`nt know) She also told me that there are some vets in town who will do reduced rates for spay and nueter for some of the foster animals so that they can be relocated to a new home.
I will post again after she calls me back and let you know what is going on.
Thanks so much for the support!
Linda

Maybe you can try your local newspaper... if they run an article on her/her situation maybe that will help get some of the animals re-homed. Like a "call for help" article...

That will be a good idea...if it is not already going to be taken totally out of my hands. I`d really like to see them get new homes where someone will take care of them. I will certainly ask about doing that when this lady calls me back.

Did you call the Michigan Humane Society? Isn't one of the Animal Cops shows on Animal Planet take place there? I am sure I have seen it. If so then that is what they do all the time, go check out animal hoarders and people neglecting or abusing their animals. Is this place near you by any chance? If not I would call them anyway and see if they can give you the number for a place that could help.

Thanks Jen...I`m not sure. (Michigan is BIG) I did`nt find a listing in our yellow pages, but I will ask the lady when she calls me back. She may know, if they have to do this kind of thing often

HERE check this out:

http://www.michiganhumane.org/site/P...locationshours

try these people whether they are close to you or not.

Hey Jen...I found a page online ...but they are in Westland, Rochester or Detroit(Westland and Rochester are like subdivisons of Detroit. )That is at least 3 hours away from here. There is one in Jackson, which is still aprox 2 and 1/2 hours...but nothing near here. I will give this lady the numbers anyhow though....if she does`nt already have them, so that she can contact them. Maybe they will help since it is a township taking charge and not an indivdual person.

I cant believe that there's no organization in the US to stop this kind of cruility to animals. Here in the UK we have an organization called the RSPCA who work to prevent this kind of abuse. They have legal powers to step in and remove animals from that kind of overcrowded situation. The owners would even be prosecuted for cruilty to animals.
I'm glad you have taken notice of this situation stampit3d and are willing to do something about it. All i can suggest is trying to contact rescue centres and asking for their advice. Good luck.