UPCOMING TRIAL FOR SEEFELD & GIESE VERSUS PRICE COUNTY

[My Northern Wisconsin]

   

On February 21, 2023, Brantwood residents, Trudy Seefeld and Charles Giese, filed a lawsuit against Price County regarding the return of multiple cats which were taken by the Price County Humane Officer.

The situation began when the plaintiffs contacted the sheriff's office given they had too many cats.  Catkins Animal Rescue was then contacted to take some of the cats and kittens.  According to another local newspaper, The Price County Review, the plaintiffs allege that Catkins told them that if the kittens could not be placed in homes, they would be sent to a Dane County animal shelter, which would send them to the University of Wisconsin for research purposes if they were not adopted.  That allegation left residents wondering about its validity.

   
Website Image:  Catkins Animal Rescue

Since Catkins advertises as a no-kill shelter, My Price County reached out to both Catkins and the Dane County Humane Society to understand their policies.

According to the Director of Animal Operations Sarah Byerley at Dane County Humane Society, "In a search of our database back as far as 1/1/2013, I found no record of us accepting any animals at all from Catkins.  They are entered as an agency in our database which indicates to me that we may have worked with them in some capacity at some point but not in the past ten years.  I can also share that we do not send live animals to the University of Wisconsin, or anywhere else, for research, ever.  We also do not ever euthanize an animal for the purpose of research."

The Catkins Board of Directors stated, "We are very disheartened to continue to hear the allegations made regarding our organization by the public and local media outlets.  In response to the court case you mentioned, we are not able to comment on any ongoing court cases involving animals that may be being housed and cared for at our facility.  All questions regarding this matter should be directed to Price County’s legal counsel."

However, Catkins did advise that "Catkins Animal Rescue has, and always will be, a no-kill organization.  We have worked tirelessly for over 15 years to best serve every animal we have encountered and secure them happy endings with loving families.  We have wonderful working relationships with many local humane societies in neighboring counties so that all counties are best able to serve the population of homeless pets in Northern Wisconsin.  We have never, nor would we ever, send animals to anyone for research.  We do not work with Dane County or any other facility in any way, shape, or manner that involves animals being researched or harmed.  Our animals stay with us for life until they are adopted.  We would never send animals to any other shelter that is not a no-kill....Animals only leave here if they are adopted or fostered."

We asked Catkins and Price County Humane Officer Mindy Dabler about allegations that the Catkins facility is full and the county cannot accept more animals.

Catkins stated, "These are unprecedented times for animal shelters.  When we say we are “full” it is that we are beyond capacity and have no more space left to safely house any animals.  Our shelter is very small, so when we reach a “full” status, we then add animals to an intake waiting list and call the owner when a kennel opens which allows for safe surrender of the animal to our care.  This is common practice for all shelters.  We take all strays from the county and do not turn any away per our contract.  All strays from Price County must go through either the Price County Police Department or the Price County Humane Officer."

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Officer Dabler agreed, stating, "There have been recent short periods of time where there has been temporarily limited space for animals due to the large amount of animals being surrendered or abandoned post COVID-19.  For owner surrenders, Catkins Animal Rescue, Inc. has a waiting list owners can get on.  Stray animals are brought to Catkins Animal Rescue, Inc. if necessary and if the situation requires.  Catkins Animal Rescue, Inc. and I communicate often to make sure all the animals at the facility are able to be housed safely, in the space provided."

We further asked Catkins why so many animals were being surrendered and why more animals were not getting adopted.  They stated, "Shelters around the country, including other shelters here in the Northwoods, are also full beyond capacity.  Adoptions have slowed way down due to inflation and the skyrocketing prices for rent, housing, food, gas, and everyday items.  It has become an animal crisis nationwide."  Catkins added that they have taken in over 390 Price County animals year-to-date (as of November 2023).  They have also assisted numerous private owners who wanted to re-home their pets outside of the shelter system.

Given the plaintiffs filed a case seeking to have their cats returned, the county has been responsible for paying to house the cats at Catkins, which has become a considerable amount.

We asked Bryce Schoenborn, attorney for Price County, for the county's official statement on the case.  He stated, "On January 31, 2023, the Price County Sheriff’s Department Human Officer, Deputy Mindy M. Dabler, responded to a request from Trudy Seefeld to surrender several domestic cats located at her residence.  The original request was to surrender about 20 cats.  Upon entering the residence, Deputy Dabler observed approximately 40 cats.  Ms. Seefeld’s live-in boyfriend, Charles Giese, estimated that there were 30 cats in the residence.  Deputy Dabler observed that several of the cats appeared to have eye infections and/or other maladies.  Ms. Seefeld claimed that the animals were receiving care from the Animal Clinic in Tomahawk.  At that time, Ms. Seefeld signed owner surrender paperwork for three pregnant cats.  Those cats were transported to Catkins Animal Rescue, Inc., who determined that those three cats had upper respiratory infections, fleas, and ear mites.  Ms. Seefeld asserted to Catkins that outdoor predators had “taken care of the problem” that she had of possessing too many outdoor cats.

"Deputy Dabler returned on February 7, 2023, at which time Ms. Seefeld signed owner surrender forms and turned over four more female cats.  Ms. Seefeld communicated that she was only going to treat the kittens for the upper respiratory infections, as they were young, but not the other cats.  Those additional cats were transported to Catkins.

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"On February 9, 2023, Deputy Dabler returned to Ms. Seefeld’s residence.  Deputy Dabler observed a cat that Ms. Seefeld indicated could not stand due to injuries sustained after being struck by a piece of machinery; Ms. Seefeld stated that they were going to wait and see if the cat got better, as opposed to seeking care for the animal.  Ms. Seefeld signed owner surrender forms and turned over 11 more cats that were transported to Catkins.  Ms. Seefeld stated that there were 13 more cats that she wanted to surrender, keeping seven indoor/outdoor cats, and two outdoor cats.

"On February 10, 2023, Ms. Seefeld and Mr. Giese contacted Catkins multiple times, asking for the return of a cat that had been previously surrendered.  After being told "no," due to the animal already being surrendered, she stated that she would no longer voluntarily turn over the remaining cats and that Deputy Dabler could no longer come onto the property.  All of the cats that had been surrendered were examined.  Most of the cats that had been surrendered presented symptoms of sneezing, coughing, running nose, infected eyes, ear mites, and audible breathing.  Many did not have their vaccinations, which would have prevented some of the illnesses.

"At that time, the Price County Sheriff’s Department was aware that Ms. Seefeld was no longer cooperating in the surrendering of the animals and that the animals remaining on the property likely suffered from the same maladies as those already surrendered, which conditions were not being properly treated.  One of the animals that were remaining had a damaged or lost eye due to injury.  Price County sought and obtained a search warrant to obtain possession of the mistreated animals.  The search warrant was executed and 14 cats were seized and transported to Catkins. 

"After the cats were seized and transported, Ms. Seefeld filed a Petition for Return of Animals.  The county has tried to work with Ms. Seefeld, but, so far, has not been able to arrive at a mutually-agreeable resolution.  Accordingly, this is a case that will likely need to be determined by the court.

"The county is extraordinarily grateful to Catkins for the exemplary care that the seized animals have received and their patience through this lengthy litigation process.  Further, the county is striving to resolve this litigation as quickly as possible."

We reached out to Trudy Seefeld who told us to contact her lawyer, Stephen Willett.  He has not responded as of press time.  If we do receive a reply, we will publish the response on this article and notify our readers.

The court case is scheduled to take place on December 21, 2023 at the Price County Courthouse.


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