Note: more photos and documentation are provided at the end of the petition. Make sure you keep scrolling; there are gaps between the photos. 

Also please do not donate to promote the petition after signing. I need to to stay local to Florida and they promote it everywhere. 

The community is deeply concerned about the welfare of the cats at the Catz Meow Sanctuary in Sumter County, particularly a cat named Lil Man, who has a ruptured eye. He was first seen in the horrific video taken on May 9th by a volunteer who was shocked at the conditions these animals are living in. The video shows a dead kitten lying outside the cage on a pile of trash, a litter box with maggots, and many sick, suffering cats including Lil Man, who has a painful, ruptured eye. 

Video of the horrific conditions:  https://www.youtube.com/shorts/TDeY496f2Jg

A local rescue went to the "sanctuary" the day after the video was shared to retrieve cats they trusted were being fostered and cared for by Catz Meow., who have at least 150 cats, per the animal services report.  They also found horrific conditions and took additional videos. They brought the sickest cats to animal services, where the cats died from neglect, yet there were no citations.

The sheriff's report states: 

"6 were sent to the Sumter County Animal Shelter for immediate medical services.
One of the cats was marred to the point of having to be euthanized so remove it from the suffering it was in. Chris (officer) stated that the remaining 5 cats are dying and are not expected to make it. The cats and kittens appeared to be dehydrated and in extreme hunger."

A SCAS Field Report about the remaining cats was filed the next day. 

"Kittens A-4154 and A-4157 were found deceased in kennel on May 12, 2024 by kennel staff during morning
inspection. The cause of death is unknown and both were refrigerated to preserve."

The sheriff's department called Venus Bemis-Mikolajek, the sanctuary's owner, and set up a time to come by on May 13, two days after the dying cats were brought to animal services.

The animal services report states:

"As we entered the mobile home's enclosed front porch area, there was a large pile of cat feces in the entrance of the
mobile home. It appeared as if someone may have used a large scoop shovel to shovel all the cat feces on the floor
into a large pile. The area smelled extremely offensive and was not sanitary. the front door was open to the mobile
home but did not look safe to enter. Large piles of cat feces was inside the entrance way of the mobile home. From
where I stood, it appeared to have 2 to three inches of cat feces all throughout the flooring of the mobile home."

Video showing the aforementioned porch with cats forced to live with large piles of feces: https://youtu.be/1S2BvS4Vp1Y

Why were there no cruelty or neglect citations for the sick cats that died? Sheriff Department and animal service reports state they were starving and dehydrated. Why is starving animals to death not considered abuse in Sumter County? 

The authorities have made appointments to visit the property for 8 months as 'follow-up' checks. After documenting the sick cats for 2 months with photos and notes, the officers finally issued an Order to Provide Care for 11 very ill and suffering cats on July 12, including Lil Man, (documentation below in photos).  Bemis-Mikolajek took 8 of the 11 cats ordered to the vet, only because she was forced to. She never took the other 3 and SCAS refused to follow up on those cats despite numerous emails asking to see the vet reports for the other 3 cats. SCAS ignored its own Order to Provide Care. They also ignored their order for proof of rabies vaccines for all cats.  

Rescues have offered to take Lil Man and pay for his care since May, yet SCAS refuses to remove him from the facility. The veterinarian's diagnosis in June (public record) was that the eye must be removed but the organization's director and founder, Bemis-Mikolajek did not have it done. The authorities will not confiscate him to help him or the other cats needing care and do nothing to force Catz Meow Sanctuary to help him. 

Florida Statute 828.12 defines animal cruelty as a person who intentionally commits an act to any animal, or a person who owns or has the custody or control of any animal and fails to act, which results in the cruel death, or excessive or repeated infliction of unnecessary pain or suffering, or causes the same to be done, commits aggravated animal cruelty, a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or by a fine of not more than $10,000, or both.

According to the above definition of animal cruelty, this clearly describes Lil Man and other sick cats on the property (more photos below). Sheriff's Department cruelty investigator, Detective Donald Fender, stated he found no reason to charge the Catz Meow Sanctuary with animal cruelty, even after evidence of 6 dead cats, and photos taken by their enforcement officers of many other cats suffering.

Why do authorities refuse to act to help these animals? Why are they not citing her and confiscating these animals that need help? This question has been asked to the sheriff's department and animal services repeatedly, but their only response is 'she's doing better'. Bemis-Mikolajek knows exactly when they are coming due to the scheduled appointments, and only allows them into the areas she wants them to see, so, of course, they report 'she is doing better'. Do you clean your house before you have guests over? Of course. If they got a warrant, they would see if the horrific conditions shown in the videos above still exist.  After all this evidence over the past 7 months, Bemis-Mikolajek has not received even ONE citation!   

A forensic veterinarian and expert witness in animal cruelty cases put an extensive report together stating Lil Man and the other cats are in distress and need immediate veterinary care, concluding the officials are not enforcing cruelty laws, and that this is a serious hoarding situation. The veterinarian sent the report to the State Attorney, county commissioners, and other officials. The state attorney replied, saying due to Detective Fender's opinion that there is no animal abuse issue in this case, they don't feel anything additional needs to be done. 

This response is shocking. If the State Attorney's office looked at their agencies' reports and documentation, how could he come to that conclusion? 

Sumter County officers estimate in their report Bemis-Mikolajek has at least 150 cats, yet the authorities do not make her provide state-required rabies certificates, and they have never done a full inventory of the animals. Sumter County Animal Services has been reported to the Department of Health for not enforcing the state rabies laws. 

On top of all this, the sheriff's department has ignored numerous public records requests for their reports showing how Detective Fender concluded, even with all this evidence, that no cruelty was committed.  When the department finally responded, they said a ransomware attack in August is keeping them from accessing their records so they have not sent the requested documentation. Yet it is now February, and they still have not responded to the request, which is against the state public records law. 

Catz Meow Sanctuary has a list of animal abuse complaints, starting in 2022. Video and photos corroborate the complaints, many from animal services themselves. Alarmingly, the Sumter County Sheriff's Department and Sumter County Animal Services have repeatedly ignored these issues and turned a blind eye to animal abuse laws, state-required rabies laws, and local ordinances. Instead of obtaining warrants for inspections, they make 'appointments,' giving the facility ample time to cover up anything they don't want seen. This behavior is a clear dereliction of duty, allowing possible continued neglect and abuse of animals at the 'sanctuary'.

It is time for these relevant entities to abide by and start enforcing the laws put into place to protect animals from such suffering.  As concerned citizens and animal lovers, I urge you, to join us in demanding that the Sumter County Sheriff's Department and Sumter County Animal Services live up to their mandate. By signing this petition, we can request immediate and decisive action against Catz Meow Sanctuary, remove any sick animals, including Lil Man, and ensure the animal welfare laws are adhered to.. Please, sign this petition today and email the following people, which will include the Sumter State Attorney's office, Board of County Commissioners and the Department of Health. 

Ask in the headline that ANIMAL ABUSE LAWS BE ENFORCED in Sumter County. Please put the petition link in the email so they know what this is about. It is below the addresses. 

wgladson@sao5.org
jchurch@sao5.org
sheriff@sum.net
wforgie@sao5.org
debora.butterfield@sumtercountyfl.gov;
andy.bilardello@sumtercountyfl.gov;
todd.coon@sumtercountyfl.gov;
jeff.bogue@sumtercountyfl.gov;
don.wiley@sumtercountyfl.gov;
DLCHD60WebManager@flhealth.gov
health@flhealth.gov
Joseph.Ladapo@flhealth.gov

Petition link: rebrand.ly/enforceanimalwefarelaws