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Thank you for caring about the animals and doing as much as you can to help. All of us appreciate your concern. The St. Francois Society does understand what the media was saying and telling the world, but we just want to tell everyone the truth. This is our story. In late February the inspectors from Missouri Department of Agriculture ordered us to reduce the number of animals that were at our facility or hire more kennel workers. We hired two new additional kennel workers, as well as recruited more foster and adoptive homes for the harder to place animals. On March 1, 2011, I was told I had to euthanize at least 60 animals. I was also told that even if I did this they, the state inspectors might close us down. Our animals are happy and healthy as attested by our veterinarian who has made weekly visits to the kennel. I have fought euthanasia of healthy animals all my life, but if we as the St.Francois Society get shut down the 800 animals we rescue every year from death in the pounds will die and suffer because there is no one to rescue them. I spent two sleepless nights drawing up the euthanasia list. The euthanasia date was on March 3, 2011. On March 2, 2011 an email was sent out by another organization about this. We were not aware of it. Emails and phone calls flooded my veterinarian's office. He fought hard to save the St.Francois Society. We were told to dispose of 60 animals. As a result of influx of phone calls and emails that apposed such action our veterinarian chose to cancel the euthanasia dates. On March 4, 2011 the state inspector filed the paper work to seize the animals. This was kept secret from St.Francois Society. Two weeks later we got 75 animals out into foster and adopted homes. A rescue transport service offered to take some of the animals to other shelters in other states. Another 59 more were scheduled to go out to other rescues the following week. The state inspectors were informed of this progress, but were not deterred by it. The remaining animals were seized on March 15, 2011. Videos with the full story with some surveillance video is at http://www.youtube.com/user/SaintFrancoisSociety The animals are now in the custody of the Humane Society of Missouri. The HSM is the high kill facility in the state of Missouri. They will probably seek to charge the St. Francois Society thousands of dollars for their custodial care. If the Humane Society is allowed to keep the animals, many will be culled and killed. The custody hearing is April 11, 2011. Our veterinarian will again fight to save the St.Francois Society, but there is no money for attorney's fees. In the event of this situation Brentwood PetSmart, our main source of adoptions and income, did not wait to learn the whole story, but immediately kicked the St. Francois Society out and turned the cat adoption center over to another rescue group. With great reluctance and a breaking heart, we had to sign away out cats there. - Our hearts are heavy, we love our animals. Please pray for their safety, their return and their precious lives. Thank you for your time. The St.Francois Society |