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KHS takes in seized animals

BILL BULEY | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 3 years, 11 months AGO
by BILL BULEY
Bill Buley covers the city of Coeur d'Alene for the Coeur d’Alene Press. He has worked here since January 2020, after spending seven years on Kauai as editor-in-chief of The Garden Island newspaper. He enjoys running. | October 13, 2022 1:07 AM

COEUR d'ALENE — Dogs, cats, kittens and a rabbit seized from a Coeur d'Alene apartment Tuesday night were brought to the Kootenai Humane Society.

The seven dogs ranged in age from about 6 months to 5 years old. One was a Pug, while the others were black, white and chocolate labs.

Mary Powell, KHS dog technician, said the dogs were generally in good health, with some on the thin side.

"They're friendly and doing well," Powell said Wednesday.

When the dogs arrived at KHS, they were dirty and "starved for water," said KHS Development Director Vicky Nelson.

"They drank and drank and drank," she said.

While the eight cats were also in pretty good health, two of the three kittens were in rough shape.

At 6 weeks old, they should have weighed about a pound and a half, said cat tech Lauren Moreno. But two were only about 5 ounces each with infected eyes and respiratory issues.

"Super malnourished, really small," Moreno said when asked to describe them.

The kittens received food and water and were treated with shots and oral medication, and their eyes were cleaned Wednesday. They're headed for a foster home today.

There were fears they wouldn't survive the night, but they did.

Still, they aren't out of trouble.

"With that one, you never know how it's going to go," Moreno said.

A second kitten let out a low growl when petted while eating.

"That's a fighter," said Tess Moreno, also a cat tech.

A third was healthy.

For now, the animals taken from the home will remain at KHS, a no-kill shelter, Nelson said. They could eventually be put up for adoption, but it may take time to sort out ownership.

Meantime, KHS Executive Director Debbie Jeffrey said they will do all they can for their new guests.

"That's why we're here," she said.

Last year, KHS took in more than 60 dogs from a hoarding situation in the Silver Valley. All found homes.

RELATED: Woman charged with animal cruelty

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A Pug taken by police from a Coeur d'Alene apartment Tuesday night and brought to the Kootenai Humane Society peers out from its kennel on Wednesday.

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A cat seized from a Coeur d'Alene home Tuesday night looks from its kennel at the Kootenai Humane Society on Wedndesday.

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Three kittens taken from a Coeur d'Alene apartment share a container of food Wednesday at the Kootenai Humane Society.

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Lauren Moreno cares for one of the kittens on Wednesday that was brought to the Kootenai Humane Society after it was taken from a Coeur d'Alene apartment Tuesday night.

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Lauren Moreno cleans the eyes of a kitten at the Kootenai Humane Society on Wednesday.

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A rabbit taken from a Coeur d'Alene home Tuesday rests in a cage at the Kootenai Humane Society on Wednesday.

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