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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, October 4, 2013 | 4 Kool Kats Rescue founder faces cruelty charges by John Bkila Oakville Beaver Staff The Oakville & Milton Humane Society (OMHS) has charged a woman with nine counts of animal cruelty in the recent case of the removal of more than 100 cats from a Halton Hills home. The accused is the founder of a registered charity, Kool Kats Rescue. On Sept. 5, the OMHS reported to a singlefamily home at 16574 Steeles Ave., just west of Winston Churchill Boulevard and Tenth Line near Milton, after receiving an anonymous tip and began transferring 117 felines from the area to its 445 Cornwall Rd. shelter. Ten dead cats were removed at the time of the rescue and one was in such poor health it had to be humanely euthanized following the advice of veterinarians, according to the OMHS. The charges were laid under the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (OSPCA) Act and are as follows: · permit distress · fail to provide care necessary for general welfare; adequate food and water; adequate and appropriate sanitary conditions; and adequate and appropriate ventilation · fail to provide adequate medical care, to wit, a male domestic short hair black with white feline; a male domestic short hair charcoal grey feline; a female domestic short hair calico and white feline; and a male domestic short hair black and white feline. "We've put together a very strong case based on what we saw in the home, the way we've been dealing with the animals, (and) the advice of the veterinarians, so these certainly are the appropriate charges in this case," said Brenda Dushko, OMHS manager of fund development and communication. According to Dushko, the OMHS will be recommending a lifetime prohibition on animal ownership, restitution for the expenses of rescue and rehabilitation, and jailtime (approximately 90 days) as penalties in the case. The local shelter continues to care for the rescued cats in a large temporary trailer on its property, which it is renting month to month to house the felines in one location. Many of the animals still have significant health issues, says Kim Millan, OMHS executive director. "We are hopeful that with medical care and time, that these cats will be ready for adoption into the forever homes they so richly deserve," she said. "The addition of so many badly neglected cats has strained all of our resources and we are so grateful to everyone in our community for their support." The rescue effort, which took well over a week, inspired the Oakville community to band together to help the rescued felines, now the property of the OMHS, as well as the close to More than 100 cats were rescued from Halton Hills in September. They have been housed at the Oakville & Milton Humane Society headquarters in Oakville. Oakville Beaver file photo 300 cats already in the shelter's care. Dushko says as the cats become healthy, the OMHS will begin to adopt them out, with an adopt-a-thon planned in the coming weeks. Since news of the rescue broke, residents have held fundraisers and canvassed neighbours, families and friends, while raising awareness of the need to help adopt or foster the cats. In addition, fundraising dollars have gone to help cover the costs of the large trailer. "We've had an incredibly great response from the community," said Dushko. "It's very heart-warming to see how the community has stepped up to help these cats. We're very grateful. They still have a long way's to go, so we still need everyone's support as we move forward, but we couldn't do it without the community." Those interested in fostering the cats in the shelter's care can contact Heather White, OMHS manager of community outreach and education, by emailing heatherw@omhs.ca. People can donate to help in the cats' care by visiting www.omhs.ca and indicating `cat rescue' in the notes section on the online donation page -- 100 per cent of the donation will be used to help the rescued felines. A wish list for necessary items can also be found on the OMHS website. Charged is Ruth Naccarato. A court appearance for Naccarato is set for Nov. 19. Anyone with information on this particular case is asked to contact the OMHS anonymous top line at 905-845-1551, ext. 31. RECYCLE RECYCLE MORE Recycle empty rigid food, beverage and household household plastic plastic containers containers and packaging packaging. Visit your municipal website for more information. REGION Available in an accessible format.