Vandals kill animals at Roosevelt pet shelter

Animal lovers, neighbors and other supporters poured into a tiny Roosevelt neighborhood pet shelter and store Sunday, offering cash, condolences and volunteer time in response to a break-in by vandals overnight Friday that left dozens of animals dead.

Nastassya West, 11, who adopted her cat from Animal Talk Rescue, showed up Sunday to clean cages. Some volunteers helped look for animals still on the loose, some inspected the wounds on surviving animals, and still others inventoried supplies.

"This is not just a pet store," said neighbor Maggie Maxum, who walked to the store with her checkbook in hand.

Maxum said the shop exists because many area pet owners do not get their animals neutered and because breeding feral cats are a problem in the neighborhood. "Everybody wants to let their cat have a litter of kittens, but Missy [Young] is the one who cleans up the mess," she said.

Young, the owner of Animal Talk Rescue on Roosevelt Way Northeast, arrived on Saturday morning to find that someone had broken into the store during the night and let nearly all the animals out of their cages.

Some of the smaller creatures — the mice, rats and gerbils — appeared to have been deliberately stepped on. Others appeared to have been killed by the nearly 50 cats that also were released from cages. At least 25 dead animals were found, Young said, and many more remain missing.

"It was not a pretty sight," said Young, whose pet store evolved into a no-kill rescue society years ago after people began leaving unwanted kittens and cats on her front stoop.

"Whoever did this must have wanted a massacre," she said.

The vandals stole a few items, such as a large dog bed and a few reptiles — including a ball python, a bearded dragon, several full-grown leopard geckos and some baby geckos — but they left the cash in the register and didn't touch thousands of dollars' worth of birds.

Young figures whoever broke into Animal Talk intended to burglarize it but decided instead to create havoc. A break-in also was reported at Cloud 9 Thrift Shop, next door, but little damage could be seen there.

"It was really just nastiness," said Animal Talk volunteer Lisa Hager. "They broke the iguana cage that could have been opened. They traumatized the animals but left the money."

The store, which Young said operates on a shoestring, funds the rescue society, which takes in stray and unwanted cats and adopts them out. Since 1990, Animal Talk has spayed, neutered and microchipped thousands of animals and has found homes for more than 800 cats, according to volunteer Patti Gotz.

Several dozen cats living at the shelter remain up for adoption, although some first will have to be treated for injuries sustained in the free-for-all. Young estimates it will cost nearly $2,000 just for antibiotics to treat the injured animals.

Police are investigating.

Young said she's still overwhelmed with the cleanup and other work that remains, but she's grateful for the support.

"People have been really great," she said.

Young has two requests.

She could still use donations of paper towels, cloth towels and bleach. "That's what makes a shelter run," she said.

And she hopes that whoever took Buddy the iguana gives him back. "I'm afraid he'll bite someone and they'll kill him. I think I'm the only one who can love him."

Christine Clarridge: 206-464-8983 or cclarridge@seattletimes.com