Please help make changes at the City of Chicago Commission on Animal Care and Control.

On August 25th, 2010 my three very healthy, happy, adorable cats, Daisy, Iz and Boo were seized by the City of Chicago Commission on Animal Care and Control (“ACC”) by mistake during an eviction proceeding at my pet sitter’s home.  One of my cats, Moto was left behind locked in the apartment by ACC (I made arrangements to get her out of the apartment and she was boarded at The Cat Hospital).  I tried repeatedly for five days to retrieve my cats from ACC.  At first I was told that my cats could not be found at ACC and then when they finally were found I was told that the person that handled the processing of my cats was out on medical leave and that the paperwork required to release them could not be found.  I called for five days, every hour demanding to speak with a supervisor but was told they were out, put into their voicemail to leave a message, or told they would get back to me, my calls and messages went unanswered.  My cats were finally released on September 1, 2010. 

Boo, Daisy and Iz became ill during the night on September 3, 2010.  They were sneezing, coughing, their eyes and nostrils were crusted over, they were unable to hold food or water down, they were vomiting, they had diarrhea and were running a fever.  My cat Boo became so ill that she needed to be taken to The Cat Hospital on September 4th, 2010, where she was diagnosed with the highly contagious, deadly virus, feline panleukopenia, which she had contracted at ACC.  She did not have one white blood cell left in her body.  Boo died on September 8, 2010.

My cats Daisy and Iz contracted the virus as well and were treated by my personal vet at home, they made it through.  My cat Moto that was left behind in the pet sitter’s apartment by ACC, never contracted the virus.  

Panleukopenia has an incubation period of four to five days.  My cats were in the ACC facility for five days.  ACC knew and never notified me that my cats had been exposed to and contracted the virus.  If they had notified me when they were finally released, I could have taken the necessary steps to get them treatment immediately.  Further, if they had not been in the facility for five days my cats' symptoms would not have been so severe and Boo would not have died.  

I received this video http://www.wgntv.com/videobeta/758340b4-b0c9-4e0f-9d13-673cdee21421/News/Overcrowding-understaffing-at-animal-shelter regarding a segment that aired on our local WGN television station on August 31st, 2010.  The report showed the horrendous conditions that animals in ACC’s care are being exposed to including, pictures of animals overcrowded in unclean and unsanitary cages, dead cats in cages, dogs and cats with open wounds on their bodies, healthy cats in a cage next to another cage with a sign stating “DO NOT USE NEEDS BLEACH +PARVO”, cats sitting in pet carriers lined up in a hallway, as well as reports from employees, volunteers and interns discussing the conditions and the need for concern for the safety of the animals.  The director, Cherie Travis’ response when questioned by the reporter about the pictures of a dead cat and animals with visible wounds and infections, was that she did not know where the photos came from and she was not going to answer the question.  The report also states that Cherie Travis called the WGN station manager and asked that the story not be aired. 

Boo is not a picture of a dead cat that Ms. Travis viewed during an interview and can ignore.  She was a living creature and now she is dead.  Her remains are in a box that was addressed and shipped to ACC.   My cats were exposed to and contracted panleukopenia while in the care of ACC.  My animals were subjected to horrible conditions and treatment.  Ms. Travis, as the director, cannot hide or deny what is happening to the animals at ACC.  People have the right to know the truth and demand that animals at ACC are treated humanely.  

Ms. Travis and her staff should be held accountable for Boo’s death, the complaints and concerns of the employees, volunteers and interns at ACC, the animals that were shown in the WGN segement, and any other animals not being treated properly at ACC.  

Please be Boo’s voice and take action immediately to insure the safety and welfare of the animals in the care of ACC.

Ellen Graham