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NewsApril 2, 2015

The animals at Safe Harbor Animal Sanctuary soon may be moving out. Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster has asked a court to have the shelter's remaining animals removed, citing a "substantial ongoing risk to their health and welfare," according to a news release from the Attorney General's Office...

Montica Babers visits with some of the 185 cats living at Safe Harbor Animal Sanctuary, Tuesday, March 17, 2015. (Laura Simon)
Montica Babers visits with some of the 185 cats living at Safe Harbor Animal Sanctuary, Tuesday, March 17, 2015. (Laura Simon)

The animals at Safe Harbor Animal Sanctuary soon may be moving out.

Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster has asked a court to have the shelter's remaining animals removed, citing a "substantial ongoing risk to their health and welfare," according to a news release from the Attorney General's Office.

Former Safe Harbor president Alice Wybert said, "I know nothing," when contacted for comment about the order.

The release indicates 31 cats have died at the facility since Oct. 31.

Koster is asking the court to order Safe Harbor to transfer all animals on its premises to the Department of Agriculture to be assessed and placed with other facilities, the release said. He also is asking for a permanent injunction prohibiting the animal sanctuary from conducting any activity under Missouri's Animal Care Facilities Act.

The shelter has been under a "gentleman's agreement" not to adopt out or take in any animals other than dogs that have completed the Puppies for Parole training pending the next scheduled court date in a suit filed by Koster.

Koster's application for the permanent injunction says between Oct. 31 and March 2, five animals were euthanized, 20 died at Safe Harbor, one died at a veterinarian's office during treatment and five were confirmed dead without record.

"Missouri laws are in place to protect the health and well-being of cats and dogs in animal care facilities," Koster said in the release. "When a facility cannot or will not provide adequately for the animals, alternative accommodations must be found."

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A hearing on the application for permanent injunction will be at 9 a.m. April 9 in Cape Girardeau County Circuit Court.

A pending lawsuit by Koster against Safe Harbor and Wybert alleges violations of the Animal Care Facilities Act, among them failure to take sick animals to a vet for diagnosis and treatment and maintain health records for the animals. A bench trial in that case also is scheduled for April 9.

Wybert faces separate charges of misdemeanor animal abuse in the cases of two cats, John Otis and Midnight. Wybert is scheduled to appear on those charges April 28.

Nanci Gonder of the attorney general's office said if the injunction is granted, the animals' placement in other facilities will be up to the Department of Agriculture.

kwebster@semissourian.com

388-3646

Pertinent address:

359 Cree Lane, Jackson, Mo.

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