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We were made aware of the inhumane and illegal treatment of cats living at the Avenal Prison on November 4, 2000.
The picture of Justice sitting outside the "physc building", is where this gruesome story begins. Twenty to thirty cats had been living under this building for the past few years. Food and water was provided for them by inmates and prison employees.
It seems that around October 28, Warden Mendoza-Powers, gave orders to Johnny Olivas to install grates over the opening the cats used to access their shelter. This job was carried out during daylight hours, trapping the cats underneath to starve to death!
Many individuals smuggled cat food into the prison and fed the cats through the grates. Ice cubes were placed on the grates, and as the melted it would create moisture for the cats to drink.
Employees of the prison, in various positions called Kings County S.P.C.A, Avenal Animal Control, trying to get help from these agencies to eliminate this cruel death sentence. Officials of the agencies were denied access to the site, because it was against policy to allow the public to go in that area of State property. Prison officials of course denied any illegal or inhumane treatment of the cats, or as to the number of cats living at the prison.
I am Joyce Bicknell, employed by the California Feline Foundation for over three years. After talking with individuals aware of the problem, cameras were smuggled into the prison and picture of feeding stations as well as the "physc building". I have been the "mouth piece" for this project , those of us
involved call the Star Project.
I placed a call to Lt. Malero, Public Information Office, and he again denied any illegal or inhumane practices were occuring towards the prison cats. I then told him we had pictures taken less than 48 hours ago, a list of about 20 individuals working at the prison who were aware of the situation. He said he would go to the site and assess the situation.
After an article appeared in the Hanford Sentinel newspaper on November 11, efforts were made by prison officials to work with representatives of the California Feline Foundation.
Maureen Withrow, Ralph Franklin and myself have been allowed two visits to the site in question. On each visit we removed mummified bodies of cats and kittens. "Inmate" was the first cat we brought back with us. He definitely is not a feral, wild, disease carrying cat, as the prison officials have classified the feline population at the prison to the press.
"Star" was brought back on our second visit. Both she and "Inmate" have been combo tested for feline leukemia and feline aids, and the results were negative. "Star" was scheduled to be spay five days after we rescued her. However upon examination, the veterinarian on our staff was concerned about her health. Here eyes remained dialated, and she collapsed at the administration off pre anesthetic. It was decided to euthanize her. When a "post" examination was performed, it was determined that she had an abscess on her liver which had ruptured and the abdominal cavity was completely infected. Could poisons have cause the condition, as well as the mummified state of the bodies?
On our second visit, prison official agreed to keep the gate closed on the fence that encircled the "physc building" and set and bait traps. The hope was to humanely trap the cats still alive under the building, transfer them to Avenal Animal Control, who in turn would call C.F.F. and we would pick them up. All parties involved seemed to be satisfied with this arrangement. However the very evening of our last visit, the traps were in place, barriers removed, but the gate was left opened. Thus allowing cats to enter or exit the grounds as they pleased. Again three days later, the gate was open, and a prison employee went into the building, only to find a doctor working that evening with the lock on his desk. Again the agreed method to humanely control the over population situation apparently fell upon deaf ears as far as the prison officials are concerned. The three traps baited and in place. On November 29th, we received a report that one of the traps was missing. I sent a FAX to the wardens office inquiring as to the where abouts of the cat. Received and answer, however no mention of the missing trap was mentioned. Then at 3:30, December 1, C.F.F. received a call from Avenal Animal Control had just received a cat from the prison. So it appeared that "Justice" had been in a trap, somewhere on the prison grounds for 48 hours. Did he have food or water? I doubt it! The next day, Saturday, December 2, one of C.F.F. volunteers drove to Avenal and picked up "Justice".
Unless pressure is put upon the prison officials by public attention, press coverage etc., there just doesn't seem to be anything more we are allowed to do. Many of the employees have asked for permission to remove some of the cats themselves. After all they share their lunch with them during their shift. This too has been denied by "policy", because these are wild animals carrying diseases and the officials have an ethical and moral obligation to their employees and inmates to protect them from harm.
I'm certain that out of the 100 to 200 cats that live at the prison site, some may be indeed feral. However the few we came into contact with, did not fit into that description. As well as the two cats that were at our shelter, seemed free of diseases that could be transmitted to human beings. I am certain that the officials hope that C.F.F. representative will just give up, the publicity will die down and they can continue to exterminate these animals any way they deem necessary.
Unfortunately, this is not the end of the story. Innocent cats are being tortured everyday at the hands of Prison Officials. We need your help, please join us in contacting Avenal Prison Officials as well as the State and Local Governments and let them know that this must STOP!
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Joyce Bicknell
Email: ByByWardenPowers@aol.com
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