'Let Us Save These Cats,' Rescue Pleads To Help Cat Colony At Manassas Apartments
Community Corner
'Let Us Save These Cats,' Rescue Pleads To Help Cat Colony At Manassas Apartments A cat rescue is criticizing a property manager's decision to cut off volunteer access to feed feral cats and take them for adoption.MANASSAS, VA — A cat rescue is speaking out against a Manassas area apartment complex for what the director says is barring access to a feral cat colony on the property.
Stacey Swan, executive director of Purrty Pawz Rescue , told Patch she started trapping sick and injured cats at the Westgate Apartments about five years ago. Various people have been caring for the for feral cats over 13 years, as the rescue believes many cats were left behind when tenants moved. The cat colony originally had 130 cats, but that is down to 50 cats due to spay, neuter and trap efforts by rescues. According to Swan, many of the cats are microchipped.
Swan said she first encountered several cats eating in the dumpster when a friend moved into the development. At the time, she wasn't too familiar with caring for cats but wanted to feed them.
"So I went and bought food and fed them. I saw a few cats that looked very sick, one was limping on her back leg," said Swan. "I reached out to some animal people and they connected me with some other cat feeders."
Purrty Pawz Rescue, based in Manassas, is a nonprofit aiming to address cat homelessness by keeping these pets out of shelters. According to Swan, the apartment complex at first was cooperative with the rescue assisting the cats. When Swan first started caring for cats at the site, she showed the feeding sites to an employee of the apartment complex. That employee showed her an additional 15 cats and asked if the rescue would feed them.
That stance changed this year, when a Westgate employee approached Swan while she was feeding a mother cat and three babies. Swan said the employee instructed her to take the food and stop feeding the cats, or she could face trespassing or criminal consequences. The rescue says the property management has not been willing to meet with the volunteers to discuss the issue.
"These cats will die if not properly cared for," said Swan. "We have young kittens, pregnant cats. Residents are scared to feed out of fear of eviction."
Westgate Apartments is managed by the Caton Companies' Management Services Corporation. A spokesperson for Westgate through the Caton Companies told Patch there are liability issues with the rescue being on site.
"While we support the mission of Purrty Pawz to assist in the care of unhomed cats, we cannot permit their members and volunteers to trespass on our property due to liability concerns," spokesperson Stephen Colvin said. "Additionally, their leaving food out on property is complicating our efforts to manage rodent concerns. Before making this decision, we discussed the matter with local animal control, and they have assured us that this decision will not endanger the cats."
Colvin said the company made a donation earlier this month to Purrty Pawz to support its work.
Prince William County Animal Services indicated there were no violations happening at the cite requiring action.
"The Prince William County Animal Services Bureau is not currently engaged with any cases involving feral cats at the property," animal services spokesperson Debbie Haight said in a statement to Patch. "We have no reports of any animal care or control laws being violated to give cause for involvement at this time."
Swan says Purrty Pawz has found new homes for the cats on the Westgate property and wants permission to feed and take the cats.
"We hope this corporation will have a change of heart and let us save these cats," said Swan. "If they would just discuss this with us and allow us onto the property, these cats can be removed and successfully placed in homes."
