“We Were Going to Bring Him Home”: Fort Myers couple says LCDAS euthanized cat mid-adoption

FORT MYERS, Fla. — A couple is seeking answers after Lee County Domestic Animal Services euthanized a cat they were in the process of adopting.

Joseph Walker and Kaley Ickes said they found the stray cat, later named “Batman,” hiding under a car on March 11 after returning home from the grocery store. The animal appeared scared but familiar with people.

“We could tell by the way he approached us that he was used to humans and being fed,” the couple said. “We gave him some chicken, and eventually we were able to bring him inside. Once he realized we weren’t trying to hurt him, he became very comfortable.”

The next day, they brought Batman to Lee County Domestic Animal Services to have him neutered and begin the adoption process.

“We completed the paperwork and were approved right away,” they said. “They told us they needed to hold him for 24 hours to check for an owner. Later, they called back and said it would actually be a 10-day quarantine.”

The couple said staff assured them the quarantine was standard procedure and that the cat would not be euthanized. During that period, they said they attempted to get updates but were unsuccessful.

“I couldn’t reach anyone who could tell me his condition,” Walker said. “Then we got a voicemail saying he had been euthanized because he wasn’t eating and was lethargic, which wasn’t the case when he was with us.”

Seeking answers, the couple went to the shelter in person.

“The man who did the intake was absolutely like baffled, because he was like that cat was so well behaved. 'I remember taking pictures of him. I remember administering his medicine, and he was perfectly fine.'"

WINK News reporter Zoe Warner reached out to the county for a response. A spokesperson for Lee County Domestic Animal Services provided the following statement:

"The cat had no name, no tag, no identification and no microchip at the time of intake at Lee County Domestic Animal Services (LCDAS).

The person who found it (the finder) signed a stray release form. The form identifies the cat as a stray and not owned by the finder.

At that time, the finder stated that the stray had scratched her in several areas.

Per ordinance, that triggered the need for a 10-day quarantine. Stray pets are only placed on a 10-day quarantine in cases in which a scratch or bite occurs that breaks skin.

During the time the cat was at LCDAS, its health declined.

County ordinance allows for staff to assess appropriate actions for the welfare of an animal in its care. Due to rapidly declining health, the decision was made to humanely euthanize the cat. 

The cat was a stray and not an owned pet at the time of euthanasia.

The finder was notified on March 14 of this decision to euthanize via call to the number the finder had provided. Staff left a voicemail informing the finder of the decision. There was no return call until March 19."

The couple maintains they were only notified after the cat had already been euthanized.

WINK News has requested additional details from the county, including a timeline of the cat’s health decline and euthanasia records.

In the meantime, Joseph and Kaley tell WINK News they plan to host a memorial for Batman to honor his life.