31 animals seized from ‘deplorable’ conditions in KC’s Historic Northeast neighborhood
Animal control officers seized 31 animals that were living in “deplorable” conditions at a property in Kansas City’s Historic Northeast neighborhood earlier this week, according to KC Pet Project.
In a social media post, KC Pet Project said officers took 8 ducks, 6 roosters, 8 hens, 8 cats and 1 pigeon from a home on North White Avenue Monday, after an investigation found the animals were living in inhumane conditions that violated city code.
A duck had to be euthanized because of injuries it suffered and a cat also died, the agency said. Other cats taken from the property were sick and needed medical attention. Officers found the site was littered with trash and animal carcasses. Animals had inadequate housing and had no access to water or ventilation and showed signs of neglect, KC Pet Project said.
Tori Fugate, a spokesperson for KC Pet Project, said someone made a report to the agency about roaming chickens and roosters Aug. 12, and the agency worked in the following days to make contact with the owner and observe animals on the property.
On Monday, the property owner gave officers permission to enter the property, and they were able to “intercept” the owner of the animals — a different person — who signed them over, Fugate said.
Fugate said a handful of citations were submitted to Kansas City Municipal Court, including violations of city codes regulating adequate care for chickens, ducks and cats, the location of a fowl enclosure and limits on the number of fowl and cats at a site. The owner also had an outstanding warrant for previous animal nuisance violations, she said.
“We are grateful to our officers who continued to investigate this case and glad to have these animals in our care now, where they will receive the attention and love they deserve,” Fugate said in a statement.
“We set up little pools of water for the ducks and it was a heartwarming scene to see them immediately jump into the water to clean themselves off,” she said.
Fugate referenced the case as a reason why people should take action when they suspect animal abuse or neglect.
“This case is another example of why it is important to report any suspected cases of animal neglect to help us protect animals who cannot speak for themselves,” she said.
This story was originally published August 21, 2024 at 12:59 PM.
