Photo: WGMK-TV
Rhonda Spivey's home was the victim of a freak fire that sparked after ants built a colony near an electrical outlet on her living room wall. When the fire department came to her rescue, they found dozens of other animals living there.
"They had cats that were outside cats and inside cats," Lt. Fred Godowa of the Volusia County Fire Department told Paw Nation. "I've seen cases where people had quite a few cats, but not that many; that was quite unusual." Spivey had about 80 cats.
Spivey told ClickOrlando.com that she never intended to amass so many animals, but that people constantly gave her cats to pet-sit and then abandoned the animals.
"We physically pulled out 36 cats," Godowa continued. Of that number, nine did not live, while the 40-plus other cats either remained outside of Spivey's home or ran away.
While the Spiveys will lose about $50,000 in damage because of the fire, there is one bright spot.
"There are [animal] codes, and the Code Enforcement was going to fine her," Godowa told us. "But she already had a fire and the loss of her home. The last thing she needed was a $3,800 fine, so the city waved it."
Of the 36 rescued cats, eleven went to a nearby Humane Society while another seven were taken to an animal rescue.
Sponsored Links
Add your comments
Advertisement
Can't Miss Galleries
Today's Popular Articles
"Hachi: A Dog's Tale" DVD Giveaway- Golden Retriever Eats Three-Carat Diamond Worth $20,000
- Prinny, the Cat Who Swims Like a Fish
Unfortunately, some ot cats died in the fire and they cross the Rainbow Bridge where God will heal them and they can play for an eternity without pain. But hopefully, the ones that the Humane Society and animal rescues will find new homes soon. Hopefully, the Humane Society will get the other cats left behind and find them homes too. 80 cats is way too many to have. I have two and a dog and that is plenty. I am an aminal lover to the core. I can't imagine what that house look like prior to the fire, but hopefully some good will come out of this tragedy.
I did not hear any report about abuse. 80 cats is not neccesaarily way too many. I have 24 cats and 3, that I seem to share with the trash who do not actually care for them, 27 total. I have spayed and neutured all but two of them. I personally vaccinate them and spend hundreds a year on gifts for them, thousands on vet bills, hundreds on high end flea and deworming products(not the dangerous store sold stuff that is actually unsafe for them) annually, and I spend over 100.00 dollars a month on dry cat food. I also have 5 kids. My goal once I complete my Registered Nursing degree and move to a larger home is to be able to save 100 rescued cats. I plan on having a nice steel building made for them, not a crappy metal shed, the kind that alot of churchs are now using only on a smaller scale. I am in no way condoning "crazy cat ladies" - please do not misunderstand me, those people are not do gooders who have gotten over whelmed, they suffer from a mental illness with collecting things it has nothing to do with helping the cats and are animal abusing defects who should be erradicated from this earth. I just think to say that if someone IS actually helping animals to make comments that any # is too many should be left for judgement after facts. I am unfortunately bundled into the catergory of horrders even though I take very good care of my babies. If people did what they were supposed to do and be responsible God would not need me too do so much to make up for it. Then again when few people take care of their own children I cannot really expect they would take care of their pets. Spay and Neutur and I would not need to take care of sooo many cats! I hope all the cats end up in good homes but, if the lady was taking care of them right it is sad that they be taken from her. Cats do not form rogue vicious packs like dogs do and kill, it is absurd to put limits on ownership of them! Then again I do not own 27 cats, 27 cats own me!
She should get the cats back. So what if people think she is crazy, they are only going to be either put to sleep or live in a cage at the animal shelter
What can you say?
What a freakish accident. My heart grieves for the nine who were lost. I pray that ALL of the survivors have loving, forever homes in good conditions. Every cat deserves this. And lest ignorant people point the finger, as they so often do, at the people, turn it on yourselves first, because it is the general public who has abdicated responsibility and turned a callous, blind eye to the tragedy of cat overpopulation, failure to spay and neuter, and abandonment of cats. Cats are valued, wonderful, loved living beings and every one deserves a loving, forever home with responsible caregivers. Judge yourself first. And then go out and adopt! and educate others.
God bless you for your love and respect for cats!
Absolutely right! I am glad to see someone else who loves cats like myself.
AMEN! GOD BLESS ANYONE WHO CARES FOR HIS CREATURES. THERE SHOULD BE MORE PRESSURE ON THOSE WHO DO NOT (i.e. NOT HAVING THEIR BELOVED PETS SPAYED SO THEY DO NOT HAVE TO ABANDON THEIR LITTERS, WHEATHER FELINE OR CANINE.)
I only have one cat at one time I had my one cat,his mom and dad, siblings and a pair of dogs but one didn't count as a pet as it was a service animal. So I had a lot of animals but my cat was a kitten and the mom was my sister in law's and the dad was my brother's one dog was a service animal and the other dog was my mom's K-9 companion for those over a certain age. The siblings were newborns so they really didnt count as pets till they were older. But 80 cat or pets of any kind is too many. I am wondering if this lady will be allowed to own a pet in the future. If she is I am hoping that they will make her have the pets spayed or neutered!
Hoarding animals is a mental illness. The people affected by this disease really don't realize the harm they are doing to the animals or themselves. Most neighborhoods have a cat lady. Mine did when I was a kid. The woman was dead for nearly a week before anyone knew. I was only 7 or 8, but I remember the cats and the smell.
No, it is they do not care. They are sick people and get a slap on the wrist when they should have done to them what they did to those poor cats. We need to stop promoting sympathy for these sociopaths and get rid of them.
Oinky you are so right. I am sure this good hearted woman didn't actively seek out caring for so many cats but what do you do when they show up at your door - she didn't turn a blind eye to hunger, thirst and lonliness...she probably did the best she could with what she had.
Terry.....I don't believe she acquired so many felines because she didn't have them spayed or neutered.....they appear to have been dumped.
You are correct. This is a lady who has worked with the Humane society and the Arnie foundation and in many cases has taken these animals so they were not euthanized. She had each and everyone spayed or neutered and these were her babies.
I have 6 cats all neutered and front declawed. No one that walks into my house can even tell I have 6 cats it is clean and no oder. If I see a cat in my front yard I go and get a can of cat food and feed it. there would be not problems if cat owners took responsbility of there pets NEUTER and SPAY your cats people.
K,
I applaud your efforts to keep a clean house. I also have 6 cats, and my home is much as you have described yours to be, clean and odorless, and my wife and I are big supporters of the spay and neuter initiative here in California. You seem to be a passionate, responsible and informed pet owner, so I was wondering why you feel it is ok to declaw cats? If you're that informed, why would you do such a thing? And please, no lame excuses like "they clawed my furniture so I had to do so."
Forgot to mention that for two of my Babies I have to spend 40.00 a month on prescription leukimia pills til they pass. I will spare no expense, they are worth it. I am not a rich person either. I just believe in doing what I believe in not just saying it. I am not mentioning my 5 kids much because that is not the topic, they are well cared for and loved also. In case this site is like others where a buch of mean commentors get on too just find something to attack people about. :)
good for you tammy.....we need more people like you on this planet. keep up the good work. i would donate money for you if i could. but i have no job at the present time. thanks, thomas
I do not mention the amount of money I spend on my kitties because I need help, only to show that I truelly take care and responsibility for them. My children and myself get way more from what our cats give us than they could ever get from me. I am only a student myself and a stay at home mom, so I suppose my childrens self proclaimed cat hating father foots the monetary bill, I do all the physical work. Stay at home wives and mothers do not get paid. Though I suppose I get paid in ferral cat love. Thank you for your kind comments TFRANC.
I love all animals, cats are my favorite, i have 4 indoor cats and 5 barn cats. They are the love of my life. It's sad that the 9 cats didn't survive. I hope the others cats find good loving forever homes.
Joyce
Fire is probably the only way to get that stink out of the house. Cat people are nuts.