Moses Lake man told to lose 26 cats

Council grants extension to allow adoptions

MOSES LAKE - A man with 26 too many cats asked Moses Lake City Council to allow him to keep his pets during a Tuesday night council meeting.

The City of Moses Lake issued a notice to Brian Healy Nov. 21, ordering him to come into compliance with a city ordinance prohibiting the possession of more than three pets per household.

Healy and his wife Yvonne own 29 cats at their South Jefferson Avenue residence; they are only allowed to have three pets. The city issued the notice following a citizen complaint about the animals.

He asked the council to allow a variance to the ordinance to allow him to continue possession of the cats.

Healy said the variance should be considered because all of his animals are spayed and neutered with current shots. He said the animals are always kept indoors.

He came into possession of the animals after many showed up at his door during extreme weather conditions and after adopting some from neighbors, Healy said.

Healy said the complaint was the first.

He said he's investigated taking the cats to Grant County Animal Outreach but fears they will be shipped to Washington State University for animal research and testing.

He said most of the cats are adults and he wants to keep them until they die to allow them to die naturally. Healy said he has one cat who is diabetic and is given medication to keep it from becoming ill.

"We can't give a variance, we can only change the ordinance," Councilmember Richard Pearce said.

He asked if Healy would be willing to advertise the animals for adoption.

Healy said he was not willing to do that because he sees advertisements for free animals all the time and fears if they are adopted they won't be taken care of.

He said if he is not allowed to keep the animals, he and his wife have considered having the extra animals euthanized and cremated.

Councilmember Bill Ecret asked if he could give some of the cats to family members.

Healy said he can't give the cats to family members because they have dogs or are unable to adopt the cats.

Community Development Director Gilbert Alvarado said Healy has 30 days from the date of the notice to come into compliance with the ordinance or he will receive a notice to cease and desist which leads to daily fines. The first notice was a warning.

Councilmember James Liebrecht asked if Healy could be given more time to find homes for the animals.

Alvarado said an extension can be granted if council approves.

Ecret asked Healy to contact Outreach to explain his circumstances to prevent the cats from being taken to WSU for testing.

"I just can't see them going," Healy said.

He asked how the number of animals allowed per residence in the city was decided.

Councilmember Jon Lane said the limit of three animals was decided after many discussions and research.

"I love animals too," Councilmember Brent Reese said. "It seems to me you're almost living your life for the cats."

He said he thought 90 days would be an adequate extension to allow Healy to relocate the animals.

Mayor Ron Covey recalled when Outreach assisted in removing more than 80 cats from a Juniper Drive residence recently. He said Outreach was compassionate to the situation and adopted out as many animals as possible. Covey said his neighbors adopted two adult cats who adapted to their new home well.

Pearce made a motion to allow a 30-day extension for Healy to find homes for the excess cats, meaning Healy must have the cats removed by Jan. 17, 2008.

Lane seconded the motion.

Pearce said he chose the Jan. 17, 2008, date because it falls between scheduled council meetings next month allowing Healy to come before council Jan. 22, 2008, to discuss the cats if necessary.

Lane said if a good effort is made by Healy to remove the cats by Jan. 17, 2008, the council would be willing to continue working with him.

The motion passed with a 6-0 vote with Reese abstaining.

He said he did not think the 30-day extension would allow enough time for Healy to adopt the animals out.

The Moses Lake City Council recently approved an ordinance allowing four pets per household if certain circumstances are met including being at least 60 years old and being blind or disabled. The extra animal would have to qualify as a comfort animal.

Healy does not qualify for the extra animal.