The Lakemore Cats

This story came up just before midnight after a grueling day, but we stayed up to pull it together and post. After collapsing at 4 a.m., we are kind of "brain dead" but Eric's need has become critical, so we will attempt to update. We're not going to rewrite the original post. If you have already read this story, you might want to scroll down to read it again. You just might know someone to forward a link to this story or someone who can help in some way.

Eric writes, "The Bank is now active about the foreclosure and I may NOT be able to save the remaining cats without your help. I have 14 special needs Cats of my own for years now, {three FIV} I have NO room at my house for more. My single garage is full of Lakemore cats being Socialized. THE 36 REMAINING CATS AT LAKEMORE ARE IN DANGER OF BEING EUTHANIZED BY AKRON ANIMAL CONTROL. HELP ME PLEASE, Don’t let the 36 cats be put down in Akron Ohio.

911 ****** Desperately ***** needed are RESCUE GROUPS from anywhere to take CATS - - even ONE or TWO -- to socialize the cats, post, adopt out to good homes. Cats will come FREE, already spayed/neutered, FIV/FeLeuk tested, wormed, and flea free.

Time and resources are running out!

And now back to our original post which explains who and what the Lakemore Cats are.

This is one of those animal rescue stories that moved us to cancel our scheduled post at the very last minute. In Lakemore, Ohio, a resident moved out leaving behind 98 cats in a foreclosed house. The owner's brother was feeding them, but banks are not disposed to look kindly on 98 cats squatting on their property. So up stepped Eric Schickendantz of Katmandu Rescue in Akron.

The gist is that Eric cleaned and disinfected the house and assumed responsibility for finding shelter for each of those cats. The latest news (as of five minutes ago) is, "No one else would help. Our shelters are full. I never thought I would have to do this alone, but the bank would have called animal control and put them down long ago if I had not gotten all the press. I have found safety or homes for 50+ so far. I still have 33 in the house and 9 here with me in my garage.

"We kept finding more & more in air vents, backs of furniture etc. As I have 14 special needs & FIV cats, I can not take more here. I use my one car garage to socialize & care for them after surgery and vetting. A HUGE bottle neck. I need to have places for the remaining 36 at the house soon. I can get them all vetted with funds I have raised -- $3600 within two weeks. But I need groups to take some cats for socialization and adoption.

Right now, there is an IMMEDIATE need for the following:

Monetary donations to One of a Kind Pet Spay/Neuter Clinic 1700 W. Exchange St. Akron, OH (330) 865-6890 in order to spay/neuter 36 remaining cats. Indicate that the donation is for Eric's Lakemore Cat Rescue Fund.

Desperately needed are foster homes to socialize the cats, so good homes can be found later. Cats will come to the foster home already spayed/neutered, FIV/FeLeuk tested, wormed, and flea free. The cats are healthy.

There may be a need for a garage or outbuilding near Akron to house the cats until they can be adopted since the cats will not be able to stay in the foreclosed house for an indefinite time.

Technical help to upload pictures of cats ready for adoption on a website.

Volunteers to screen potential new homes.

Volunteers to find homes by showing cats at Petsmart and Petco in the surrounding Akron area.

Time and resources are running out. All other avenues have been exhausted. To make matters worse, one of the major rescue group in Akron surrendered around 110 animals in late July because of animal neglect charges. These two situations have overstressed the humane community in Akron.

You can read more by visiting Eric's Animal Rescue page. It has a link to one news story. Dozens more can be found by googling Eric's name.

If you live anywhere in the Lakemore, Ohio area and can possibly volunteer to help in some way, contact Eric Schickendantz at 330-864-2879 or Ages @ neo.rr.com (delete the spaces in the address).

Eric told me to google his name and I would find any number of stories on the cats. This has really had publicity but, still, interest died down after the first couple of weeks. As I scrolled down at one of the sites, there was a picture of 3 barrels full of dead cats and the question, What did you think happened to your pets when you drop them off at the shelter? Might not be the exact wording, but this is why so many people invest their time and money -- to try to keep some of these cats, dogs, horses, etc. out of the trash.

Oh, and by the way, although we are against enforced spay/neuter laws, this is another example of why voluntary spay/neuter is so important. The original two or three cats now equal 98 cats. And some were newborns.

PS -- Don't forget to vote for Merci today! Her direct link is:
http://www.cutestdogcompetition.com/vote.cfm?h=194291465301F78C17ECD3F5BA4AB250