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July 26, 2008

Malnourished and neglected cats soon up for adoption

By ANDREA VanVALKENBURG

WESTPORT -- Twelve cats recently found abandoned inside a Willsboro mobile home have made a strong recovery and are going up for adoption.

An anonymous complaint last month led officials to an Arnold Way home where 12 malnourished cats were found living in deplorable conditions without food or water.

Twelve cats had already perished, and three others were in such bad shape they had to be euthanized within hours of their rescue.

The homeowner, Clarence Ahrent, 53, had not been living in the home since his wife died a few weeks earlier. He told police he thought a relative had been tending to the pets.

Ahrent helped Essex County sheriff's officials remove the animals from his former home.

He was charged with 27 misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty, allegations he continues to face in Willsboro Town Court.

The surviving cats were taken to the North Country SPCA in Westport, where officials say they've gained about five pounds each and are continuing to build their strength.

"They're doing much better now," Shelter Manager Pamela Rock said this week.

She expressed heartfelt gratitude to the anonymous caller who notified officials about the cats' welfare.

"If it wasn't for her, we might not have gotten any of them out, and it could've been so much worse."

Rock said that after a month at the Lake Shore Drive shelter, the six female and six male cats are now in need of new homes.

Some are already up for adoption, and as soon as the others are spayed or neutered and complete their shots, they will also be ready to leave the shelter.

Rock said it could take up to three weeks to get the last few cats ready to go.

She said 10 of them are about 2 or 3 years old, while the other two are about 4 or 5 years old.

Rock said the cats -- Constance, Grant, Barnable, Quintin, Maurice, Dora, Josette, Devlin, Burke, Lady Magovern, Tabatha and Angelique -- range in color from varying shades of orange to solid black or tortoise-shell shades of black, brown and orange.

She said they're very outgoing and friendly, and that each has an individual quirk that makes it special.

For more information about adopting one of the Willsboro cats or making a donation to assist with their care, contact Rock at 962-8604.

avanvalkenburg@pressrepublican.com

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