Angela Tardif is expected to speak during public comment at Tuesday morning’s Lee County Commissioners meeting, hoping her story sparks change after she says her cat, Kevin, was euthanized just hours after being dropped off at the county’s animal shelter.
Kevin, a 4-year-old indoor cat, slipped outside unnoticed last Thursday. A neighbor found him and brought him to Lee County Domestic Animal Services. By the time Tardif called the shelter later that afternoon, Kevin was already gone.
“It's been a really difficult weekend. It's been a lot of crying, a lot of anger. But like I said, we're really just trying to channel that into making a positive outcome for this," Tardif said.
LCDAS told Gulf Coast News that Kevin had no collar, no microchip, and appeared to be in poor condition, with a damaged eye and matted fur.
"If there are perceived health issues or the cats don’t have microchips, staff must take necessary actions to protect the feline population," a spokesperson for LCDAS said. "Only 1 percent of found cats brought to LCDAS are picked up by an owner, even when they are held for multiple days."
But Tardif does not agree.
“He was healthy. His eye had healed years ago,” she said. “ He was fed fat, happy, groomed. Nails were trimmed. Even the neighbor who brought him in had noticed how well he was taken care of, and that his nails were trimmed.”
According to Lee County policy, all microchipped pets or pets with identification will be held for a five-day period to give the owner time to claim. Dogs found without a microchip or identification will be held for a three-day period. Cats without identification do not have a hold period.
Tardif believes that policy needs to change.
“There needs to be a mandatory hold period for all animals, regardless of microchip status,” she said. “Just a day. Just a photo. Some effort.”
Tardif says she’s speaking out not just for Kevin, but for any family who could face a similar heartbreak.
Lee County Domestic Animal Services provided a statement to Gulf Coast News, saying:
“The situation that arose recently was heartbreaking. Animal Services extends heartfelt condolences to Kevin the cat’s family. Animal services staff remain committed to compassionate care and continuous improvement in serving our community and its animals... We recognize the need to review our process and are committed to improving.”
The Lee County Commissioners meeting begins at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Lee County Courthouse. Tardif is hoping to speak during the public comment portion of the meeting.
DOWNLOAD
the free
Gulf Coast News app
for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more.