Almost all of the cats have been adopted. They have found loving permanent homes surrounded by love! They so deserve it! Thank you to all the families who found a place in their hearts and homes for these lucky kitties! We could have done this without you and our countless volunteers. Thank you Rennie for allowing us to have the shelterage at your home! You allowed us to house, provide medical treatment, and love these kitties as well as find them loving homes! Your generosity will never be forgotten. To all the volunteers: THANK YOU! You introduced these cats to love! Love they had never known before. They thank you and we thank you!
Good News for the Cats Throughout this whole ordeal and all the tribulations and suffering these cats have endured, finally some good news for the kitties. When the news spread that we had to vacate the property by today, Saturday February 7, a very special person answered our prayers. This angel, who wishes to have her name withheld, offered the kitties her heated garage at her private residence. We evaluated the space Thursday, and moved ALL the kitties yesterday. Even the little girl who was still running the grounds. We were able to catch her yesterday. She must have heard of the good news, and wanted to join the others for the trip. The move was extremely successful, and all the cats were grooming, eating, and even playing within the hour after they moved. We are able to stay at this shelterage (shelter +garage) for as long as we need to get these kitties healthy, re-tested and ready for their last permanent move to a new loving home. Words can not express how thankful we all are to our Angel. While visiting with the cats, her eyes watered as they purred and played. This was the cats way of telling her "thank you for making us safe now." To you, and you know who you are...we thank you, our Angel, for being a guardian angel for the kitties. We will never be able to express just how thankful we are!
Please continue to check our wish list for supplies and donations, as the situation has changed and we have different needs now. We thank everyone from the bottom of our hearts. None of this would have been possible without the volunteers (who were wonderful yesterday as they have been everyday) and the donations from everyone. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I am elated to finally share good news about this situation with everyone!
Update on the Cats and the Move to the "Shelterage" click here
This is a horrible situation we are dealing with at this time. We need any and all help that we can get to save every one of these cats.
Update to article below: At this time we need help in any form. We are in desperate need for the following items:
Cat Litter Cat Food Cat Toys Litter Boxes (Large and Small) Food and Water Bowls (disposable containers, bowls, small plates) Cleaning Supplies Garbage Bags (large contractor type) Large Dog Crates Monetary Donations
Please drop off any donations at any of the following locations:
Ruth Steinert Memorial SPCA - Airport Road Minersville, PA Sasha's Canine Bakery - King's Village Plaza Route 901 Minersville, PA Pribilla's Home Center - 200 Bridge Street Tremont, PA Pribilla's Home Center - 101 East Colliery Avenue Tower City, PA Vetcetera Pet Heathcare Center - 35 Brown Road Schuylkill Haven, PA (www.vetcetera.com for map) Anthracite Protective Service L.L.C. 400 Sunbury Street Minersville, PA John Ulsh Auto Sales - Rt 443 Pine Grove PA (just place along left side of building if no one there) Mountain Shadow Veterinary Hospital - Route 443 Schuylkill Haven, PA
Currently we have discovered a minimum of 70 deceased cats, 2 deceased ferrets, a deceased fawn, and other deceased small animals and birds on the property. Many of the cats are dealing with severe upper respiratory infections, ear mites, fleas, skin conditions, intestinal parasites, dehydration, and of course mal-nutrition. Any and all help would be appreciated. Please call 570-385-3003 or 570-544-2920 if you have any questions or are interested in volunteering.
Published: Wednesday, January 28, 2009 4:12 AM EST
PINE GROVE — Rescue workers spent Tuesday morning saving 70 malnourished felines from a purported cat sanctuary in Pine Grove Township after owner and operator Virginia Kresge Justiniano was arrested for drug and drug paraphernalia possession early Saturday morning.
What police and Ruth M. Steinert Memorial SPCA workers found on the property shocked them.
“This was basically a shoothouse. Heroin, meth, whatever they could get their hands on,” borough police officer Mark Resue said at 33 Walmer Lane on Tuesday morning. “You can’t step foot in that house without stepping on a hypodermic needle. They (Justiniano and her live-in boyfriend) hit an all-time low and started selling the cat food for drugs.”
Pine Grove borough police Officer Jeff Futchko said there were so many hypodermic needles littering the residence, “We literally had to use a snow shovel to remove them.”
Futchko said he stopped Justiniano’s boyfriend, Andy Oxenrider, 38, of Tower City, under suspicion Saturday morning in the borough. Oxenrider’s license had been suspended, Futchko said, and when the officer informed Oxenrider he would receive a citation, Futchko said Oxenrider attempted to offer him a $500 bribe.
“What did you just say?” Futchko said to Oxenrider, who repeated the offer and was promptly put under arrest for attempting to bribe an officer. When he patted Oxenrider down, Futchko said he found marijuana in his possession, then found more drugs in Oxenrider’s truck.
The stop eventually led police to the Cats With No Names sanctuary, in operation since 1996. If it weren’t for Oxenrider’s attempted bribe, Futchko said police might not have found out about the drug den.
Both Justiniano, 50, and Oxenrider were in Schuylkill County Prison on Tuesday night in lieu of $25,000 bail. They both face multiple felonies, Futchko said, including possession of various kinds of drugs and conspiracy.
While once an operating animal-care facility, the sprawling, fenced-in cat complex quickly degenerated when Justiniano became involved with drugs, according to police and SPCA workers.
“She gave us an estimate of between 70 and 100 cats here,” Mary Ellen Smith, president of the Ruth Steinert board of directors, said at the scene Tuesday morning. “She started this as a sanctuary for unwanted cats. I’ve personally never been involved with something quite like this.”
So far, Smith said at least five cat carcasses have been found at the site. The living cats had been surviving without food, water, heat or medical care. They also had no litter boxes and the area reeked of cat urine.
Several geese, chickens, ferrets and other animals also roamed the area without food or water.
Although the cats had been without adequate food for months, one of eight storage sheds on the property — most of which had been bought by donations given to Cats With No Names, according to Smith — was filled to capacity with boxes of cat food.
It sat, unused, in the sheds for months.
“There’s plenty of food here. She had a lot of donors,” Smith said. “Eventually we had people calling and talking about” the terrible conditions.
Resue said the couple began selling large quantities of cat food at auctions to raise money for heroin, methamphetamine and other narcotics.
The property was also protected by an elaborate fencing system that led cats from one building to another. The fencing may have also been bought with donation money, Resue said.
Resue said Justiniano had been renting a room at the nearby Econo Lodge, just off Interstate 81 in the township. Drugs and drug paraphernalia were also found in that room.
The couple also rented a storage shed near Lebanon. Police searched it and also found more evidence for the investigation.
“Just more rotten cat food,” Resue said.
Smith said a temporary shelter has been established on-site for the cats. She said much of the cat food on the property is degraded after spending months and possibly years in storage.
“But, I don’t think these cats are going to care,” Smith said, adding the cats will be thankful to have a full meal for the first time in months.
Smith also cautioned against making donations to similar “sanctuaries,” advising would-be donors to visit the site before sending money.
Many donations, Smith said, had been made by people outside Pennsylvania.
The cats will be kept on-site for the next several days as SPCA workers perform medical examinations and allow the felines time to nourish themselves.
Meanwhile, Resue said the investigation into Justiniano’s drug activity will continue, adding there’s suspicion it could also involve a burglary ring, although he would release no more details Tuesday morning.
Anyone wishing to assist with the rescue operation can send donations to Ruth Steinert Memorial SPCA, P.O. Box 734, Minersville, PA 17954. Any donations should be marked “cat rescue.”
Smith also said the cats are in desperate need of cat litter and any such donations would be appreciated.
This is the beginning of what we hope to be a long list of thank you's! Every bit of help does not go unappreciated or unrecognized. Not only are these cats thankful, but so are all of us. Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!
♥ All of our volunteers: your time is valuable and we appreciate every second you all have given. Thank You!
♥ All of those who have made any form of donation: every item, dollar, and prayer is appreciated. Thank You!
♥ All of our drop off locations: special thanks the Sasha's Canine Bakery, Pribilla's Home Centers, Vetcetera, and John Ulsh Auto Sales of Pine Grove for making it possible for our supporters to make donations. Thank You!
♥ McDonald's of Pine Grove: they have provided our volunteers with hot coffee on these cold, cold, days, and provided water for all the thirsty kitties. Thank You!
♥ Surburban Propane: were you aware there were angels in the heating fuel industry? Where there are! Suburban Propane donated 3 Large 100 gallon propane tanks, to keep both our kitties and our volunteers warm. Thank you!
♥ Seltzer Insurance Group: for your financial support to help with heat for these kids and other needs. Thank You!
♥ Anthracite Protective Services l.l.c.: they have been a HUGE blessing. They are collecting donations, they have plowed the facility so we can get around better. Gary, John and Brenda, you are angels here on earth.Thank you is just not enough, but Thank you!
♥ Dr. Denise Jones of Brunswick Veterinary Hospital, Orwigsburg, PA: we so appreciate you donating your time to examine and evaluate these kitties. We are so grateful for the meds that you donated as well. The cats are thankful for the medical attention that was so needed so that they can feel better. Thank you!
♥ Colony Motel: for providing blankets for all the cats. They curl up in the warmth of your generosity. Thank you!
♥ Kramer's Towing of Hamburg: you generosity astounds us. Thank you!
♥ Giant Food in Cressona: they donated much needed cat food and cat litter. Thank you!
♥ Safe Cat: your ongoing support and volunteers are so deeply appreciated. Working with you has been a pleasure. Together these cats lives have improved. and we can't say enough so Thank you!
♥ The Media: many of these donations would not have been possible without the coverage from our local newspapers and stations. So here's to you The Pottsville Republican Herald, WNEP 16, FOX 56, and WFMZ 69. Thank You!
♥ All who have offered homes to these kitties: at this time we are still evaluating the health of these kids, but we will keep everyone's name and hope to place these kids in these wonderful homes that have been offered. Thank You!
♥ PETCO: WOW!!! Petco volunteered to donate any supplies we need for 100 cats. What can we say but Thank YOU! (way to go Beth, THANK YOU!)
