(May 7, 2010) – United Animal Nations (UAN) has deployed volunteers from throughout California  to care for 134 cats removed from Cause 4 Cats, a Lebec, California nonprofit organization operating as a cat sanctuary.

UAN assisted The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), spcaLA and Kern County Animal Control in removing the cats from the property on May 6. PetSmart Charities® donated food and other supplies to the rescue efforts. UAN and The HSUS are now caring for the cats at a temporary shelter in nearby Lancaster.

One of more than 130 cats removed from an overwhelmed sanctuary in Kern County, California on May 7.

The operator of Cause 4 Cats aimed to provide refuge for unwanted cats, but eventually became overwhelmed with more than she could care for property. Negotiations with KernCounty officials resulted in the voluntary relinquishment of the animals. The cats will be examined by veterinarians, evaluated and cared for at the temporary shelter until appropriate placement can be found for them.

“These animals were not getting adequate veterinary care or attention, as is typically the case when a caregiver becomes overwhelmed with too many animals,” said UAN Emergency Services Manager Janell Matthies, who traveled from Sacramento  to manage the temporary shelter. “We are thrilled that we could support Kern County Animal Control will our team of California  volunteers who were ready and willing to take time away from their jobs and families to care for these cats.”

Distinguished by their red shirts, UAN’s Emergency Animal Rescue Service (EARS) volunteers are specially trained to care for animals at temporary shelters after they have been rescued from cruelty and neglect situations or displaced by natural disasters. Twenty EARS volunteers will travel from throughout California between now and Wednesday, May 12 to care for the animals at the temporary shelter. UAN has nearly 3,000 active EARS volunteers in the United States and Canada, including more than 400 in California.

Nonprofit organizations that take at least ten of the cats for placement may be eligible for an emergency relief grant to cover medical expenses from PetSmart Charities.

• Read more about this situation on UAN’s Emergency Response Blog.
• Support UAN’s work in by donating to our Disaster Relief Fund.

Founded in 1987, United Animal Nations (UAN) focuses on bringing animals out of crisis and strengthening the bond between people and animals through a variety of programs, including emergency sheltering, disaster relief services, financial assistance and education. Learn more at www.uan.org.

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