On Thursday afternoon, Walker County Animal Control supervisor Curtis Patterson, right, helps load a select few of the of 157 cats found Wednesday at a Chickamauga residence. The owner presently is cooperating with the county and the Georgia Department of Agriculture, according to Patterson.Only 70 of the 160+ cats have been removed from a home in Chickamauga, after an operation by county animal control to remove the cats began last Thursday.
Curtis Patterson, animal control supervisor for Walker County, said the Walker County Animal Shelter took all 70 cats that they were able to remove.
Alison Smith, the Walker County Animal Shelter manager, said although the shelter took in the 70 cats, they had to euthanize about 30 of them because of sickness and lack of socialization.
“These cats were in imminent danger in the room they were in,” Smith said. “They’d never been outside with wind in their whiskers. They’re very feral, and they’re horrifically sick.”
She said the state inspector recommended they euthanize all of them, but they are waiting and observing the cats for a while before making that decision. White also said this emphasizes the importance of spaying, neutering and vaccinating all pets. Vaccinating pets against rabies is state and county law.