Two cats euthanized after raid at Murrieta home

By: LORELL FLEMING - Staff Writer
Official: Remaining animals appear to respond to treatment | Tuesday, September 25, 2007 12:09 AM PDT ∞

Two of the 17 malnourished Himalayan cats rescued from a Murrieta home Thursday were euthanized Friday afternoon after not responding to 18 hours of medical treatment, Animal Friends of the Valleys humane officer Monique Middleton said Monday.

One of the euthanized cats was a 4-week-old kitten. The other was a 7-year-old cat discovered to be 35 days pregnant, Middleton said. Normal gestation for a cat is 59 to 63 days.

"These were very neglected animals," Middleton said about all the cats taken from the home of Kristine Webster-Poole, a judge with the International Cat Association and a professor at La Sierra University in Riverside.

Animal-control officers found the 17 cats, without food and water, in one room of the house, Middleton said. No dead animals were found. One of Webster-Poole's co-workers told authorities about the situation, she added.

The remaining 15 cats, which include one kitten, appear to be responding to treatment, the humane officer also said. In addition to being significantly underweight, the surviving cats have upper-respiratory infections and some have dental problems, she said.

The 15 cats will be kept at the Animal Friends facility in Lake Elsinore until the case is closed and their health improves, shelter officials said.

Since the discovery of the neglected cats, there has been a lot of public interest in them, Middleton said. The shelter has received about 30 phone calls from people inquiring about the animals' health and the possibilities of adoption. Shelter officials say the cats probably won't be adopted out until the case has been closed, however.

Officers of Animal Friends arrested Webster-Poole on Thursday night. She was booked at Southwest Detention Center in French Valley on suspicion of cruelty to animals, but was out of the jail Friday after posting bail of $5,000, detention center officials said. The district attorney's office is still reviewing the case to decide what, if any, charges will be filed.

When reached by phone for comment Monday, Webster-Poole declined to comment citing the ongoing investigation.

Leslie Bowers, the International Cat Association's business manager, declined to comment on Webster-Poole's arrest.

Animal Friends of the Valleys, a nonprofit organization, is contracted to handle animal control issues in Murrieta, Temecula, Lake Elsinore and Canyon Lake. Sworn in by state authorities, officers from Animal Friends are able to make arrests and file charges with the district attorney's office as any other law officer would.

-- Contact staff writer Lorell Fleming at (951) 676-4315, Ext. 2621, or at lfleming@californian.com.

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