Cause 4 Cats Inspected and Found in Violation

by Brian Bierman

On March 3rd animal control officers appeared on the doorstep of Cause 4 Cats in Lebec.  Guy Shaw of Kern Animal Control (KAC) said he received some complaints.  According to local resident Patrice Stimpson, it was a "surprise inspection".

Kim Rodriguez, public information officer for KAC, said Shaw found a number of things wrong and gave owner Lolette Robrahn some time to make corrections.  Rodriguez wouldn't say what the problems were.  Shaw handed Robrahn a list and will be returning for another inspection "in a couple weeks" according to Rodriguez.

Rumor has it that the Robrahns have had anywhere between 100 and 325 cats in their home; many dangerously sick.  Candace Huskey of Shelter on the Hill tells The Mountain Daily News that the Robrahns have a Conditional Use Permit that limits them to 150 cats.  They recently had an ad in The Mountain Enterprise declaring that nearly 175 cats desperately needed a home.

In an email to "Mountain Animal Folks", animal advocate Patrice Stimpson said Cause 4 Cats was ordered to (direct quote):

  1. Get ALL the cats out of the house and into outdoor catteries.  Existing catteries must be brought up to code. (I really hope they imposed a limit on how many cats can be kept in each cattery, too)
  2. Apply for and receive a Kern County Kennel Permit on top of their Conditional Use Permit
  3. Reduce the population by at least another THIRTY cats - the limit is 150 cats and is based on the accomodations and the number of regular volunteers they have.
She also said they must comply with the following requirements (direct quote):
  1. All cages, runs, catteries etc. must be cleaned, and cats must be fed/watered by 12pm every day.  If necessary, cleaning must be done twice a day.
  2. The County considers their property to be "public" and therefore all walkways must be kept clear at all times. 
  3. Be prepared for unannounced KCAC inspections at any time.
None of this was mentioned by KAC to The Mountain Daily News. 


This entry was posted Wednesday, March 10, 2010 at 6:30 p.m. by Brian Bierman and is filed under the category titled Local in the News section. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Read our Commenting Policy before you post.

4 Responses
1
LRJ
3/11/2010
5:14 PM
I am personally tired of all the criticism of the ONLY working ''shelter" on this hill that has tried and now being accused of failing. You all may have your valid opinions of having been hand's on, but are any of you SERIOUSLY considering the outcome if if this woman and and her husband who spent thousands of dollars TO SAVE CATS ON THIS HILL where so few even bother TO EVEN FIX their cats and let them free range will go? Collection and PTS, like the county or the state can EVEN afford this? What about the lives of the cats w/heart that have been taken in? Shame on you! What will any other shelter do for these cats? The LAWS need to be changed so that folks (regular folks) MUST ''fix'' their cats if they are going to turn them into free ranging, and until then, those who care across the country are going to put themselves in the law's eyes trying to save them, fix them, release them and/or what this lovely couple has attempted to do! Why is it that no good deed goes unpunished?
2
LRJ
3/11/2010
5:35 PM
This community (as it was back in the day) needs to pull together and work FOR the animals, not against the ONE AND ONLY working shelter on this hill. Remember folks it's all of our problems and a solution needs to come to be, not pointing fingers and turning in those who have tried! I rest my case now, thank you!
3
mncwatson
3/12/2010
11:49 AM
Cause for Cats's is doing a great job! They love the cats and take good care of them.If it wasn't for them, so many of these cat's would be abandoned.
It always seems that when someone is trying to do a good job there is always other people trying to tear them down.
If the cats were starving and dehydrated I would be the first to agree that something needs to be done. The cats are well fed and have water.So, leave them alone and let them continue doing a much needed service!
4
LRJ
3/16/2010
7:39 PM
Cause 4 Cats NEEDS MORE HELP! It is rumored that some are going to testify against them. I know there are BIG GROUPS out here that could aid and assist, so if anyone knows WHO please contact in these people's behalf. Some hill folks were pleasured in getting help by having barns build by a cause way back when, so now it's time to help THE ONLY WORKING SHELTER ON THIS HILL survive! Lets get together and do something?
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