MACOMB – Volunteers have stepped up to help with the care over 30 animals that were confiscated last month from an alleged animal hoarding situation in Macomb.
On May 2, the McDonough County Animal Shelter was overwhelmed with even more animals in need of care after nearly 40 animals were removed from a Hickory Grove residence by animal welfare and law enforcement staff. The Macomb Police Department is continuing its work on the case with the City of Macomb Community Development and Code Enforcement departments, and the case is also in the hands of the McDonough County State's Attorney for review. In addition to the 30+ Persian cats, two of which were pregnant, removed from the home, three young chickens and a young English Setter breed canine were also remanded to the animal shelter. The shelter is currently holding and caring for the animals in the shelter's temporary custody.
Jerri Swigart of Paws & Claws and Elyse Strange of Head to Tail Grooming have brought their grooming expertise to help the McDonough County Animal Shelter care for the many Persian cats that were removed from Erickson's home following the execution of a search warrant.
Swigart told the Community News Brief that they will be taking three, possibly a few more, Persians into her boarding and grooming business to further foster and care for the animals as they recuperate as she has been rescuing Persian cats for years and understands the breed's needs. To date, she has helped groom 12 of the 30 rescued cats, and she continues to visit the shelter to wipe eyes and provide some light grooming.
'When I heard that all the cats brought to the shelter were Persians, I stepped forward to lend my help. I went out to see the cats and saw what bad shape they were in, so I volunteered,' Swigart said. 'They all had to be completely shaved down due to matting, and I had to use a surgical blade on some of them because their coats were so severely matted. One male Persian was matted completely around his body; it was so tight I don't know how it didn't suffocate him.'
According to Swigart, the Persian breed needs almost daily grooming and at least once-a-month bathing to keep their fur and skin in good health. She noted she was surprised to see very little skin issues/infections under the matting, and believes that with continued good veterinary care, grooming and nutrition, there's no reason that the animals will not be able to regrow healthy fur. In addition to the severe matting and eye issues, several of the animals were also reported to be underweight.
'The main thing I want to stress, if and when these animals are available for adoption, is that individuals who are interested in owning a Persian understand the breed as they require much more work than the ordinary tabby/long hair cat,' Swigart pointed out. 'Do your research as this breed can have more health issues than a normal cat. We just want to see them in homes that understand their care, and will care for them well.'
Strange, who has been in the grooming business for 29 years, has provided volunteer grooming assistance for the animal shelter since she opened her own grooming studio in Macomb about 12 years ago. When shelter staff or humane society volunteers reach out, she'll provide grooming care for dogs and cats at the shelter who need it. As part of the alleged hoarding case, Strange donated her time and talents to bathe and shave 18 of the 30 cats.
'Annetta Ogle (a shelter employee) had filled me in on the situation and asked if I would help,' Strange explained. 'They brought the cats to my studio, and they stayed to watch so they were able to see exactly what an experience it was to groom these cats. It was grueling and an incredibly difficult situation.
'This was among the worst I've seen in 29 years; it brings tears to my eyes,' she said, choking back tears as she spoke. 'They were all extremely patient kitties; they realized I was helping and that I was releasing them from their matted confines.'
Like Swigart's experience with the lot she groomed, Strange shared she had 16 cats that were so severely matted that they could barely move. She said most of the felines had matted pieces as big as frisbees that, if thrown in the middle of the street, the matted fur would look like a dead animal. Swigart will also be fostering one of the cats, which looks exactly like her 'Fluffy' she had from the time she was four years old through college.
'I'm really thankful that Jerri stepped up to help groom. I was glad to do it, but it was very intense,' Strange said. 'They're all so precious, and even though grueling, I was so incredibly glad I was able to help. It was a mission and God's gift to be able to do that.'
According to Bonnie Smith-Skripps, president of the Humane Society of McDonough County, volunteers from the humane society have assisted with the cats' grooming needs, as well as assisting with the kennel cleaning.
'We are pleased to see the cats' personalities emerge as they become healthier and more active. They are eager to interact and explore their new world, and the English Setter has also come into her own and loves going outside for walks and playing in the dog playpens,' Smith-Skripps said. 'She initially was quite shy, basically shut-down and undernourished. She is a very sweet young girl who demonstrates just how resilient animals are. She has become trusting and responsive, and is quite happy to see her new humans each morning. Her daily routine with volunteer dog walkers has helped socialize her and build her confidence. I love seeing the dog she has become.'
McDonough County Animal Control Officer Zach Welch said that all of the cats have been groomed and shelter staff are working to get the felines up to a normal weight.
'We are starting to get them into foster homes so that will help not only our staff, but this will help with the cats' stress levels,' he explained. 'Our next step is having another check-up with Dr. (Karen) Blakeley and then we'll work on getting more of the cats into caring foster homes to help with their recuperation.'
