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Owner gives up most animals involved in hoarding case

Megan Strickland Daily Inter Lake | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 8 years, 1 month AGO
by Megan Strickland Daily Inter Lake
| September 17, 2016 7:45 PM

Many of the animals discovered during a mobile home fire in a hoarding case on King’s Way in Evergreen on Aug. 22 now have new homes.

According to Flathead County Animal Shelter Director Cliff Bennett and Evergreen Fire Rescue Firefighter Wayne Evert, the owner of the animals, Kathy McKeeman, has signed over ownership of most of the dogs and birds involved in the case.

“The owners asked if they could get six [dogs] back and they moved out of the area,” Bennett said. “The remaining nine were made available for adoption.”

Only two dogs were still up for adoption as of last week. The others had found new families.

Fifteen dogs were taken from the property after firefighters responding to a fire found more than 100 animals.

Bennett said the dogs were all well-cared for and well-socialized.

The animals involved include a number of rabbits and geckos. Flathead County Animal Control is still sorting out their fates.

The county animal shelter is only authorized to house dogs and cats, so officials had to find places for other animals — particularly birds — to go.

Firefighters managed to put the fire out without any of the animals being affected. They found that wood chips lined the floors of the house. Dozens of bird cages were stacked along the walls, with reptiles living in the kitchen and rabbits in the back yard. Mice had infested the home.

Evert had owned birds before, so he took on the monumental task of providing care for the 65 winged creatures taken from the home. For three weeks, his family provided care.

“At the time of the fire, the county animal warden was on scene,” Evert said. “He made some calls and didn’t come up with any solutions. I talked to the owner and told her I could make it happen ... A week ago, the owner signed all of them over to the local sanctuary bird rescue.”

Reporter Megan Strickland may be reached at 758-4459 or by email at mstrickland@dailyinterlake.com.

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