No Euthanasia at Pinellas County Animal Services!

My name is Julijana Trajkovska and I have watched stories that impact lives greatly throughout the years and I would highly appreciate it if you could just read my heartbreaking story and publicize it so that people are aware of what happens behind the scenes.  Since the month of December, I had come across a liter of kittens around my condominium complex. There was a total of 3 younger kittens and one older kitten. Two of the younger kittens were black and white and the other was a solid gray color. The older kitten hasn't been spotted after coming across the younger ones. On December 27, 2017 I was followed into my home by a black and white female kitten. I closed the door and gave her food and water followed by a bath. I ended up keeping her despite my struggles as a student and full-time employee at a busy hospital. She is very much so the best thing that has happened to me. I spent many sleepless nights trying to feed and gain the trust of the other two kittens when I realized there were more people who were also feeding them. I became friends with a woman who lived upstairs in the same condominium complex and we would take turns feeding the 2 kittens daily.

On 4/4/18 I parked my vehicle and noticed the black and white kitten was watching me. I called the kitten to come to me and she started to come and followed me inside my home. This kitten had a unique marking on its mouth, so I gave her the nick-name "Stache" because she looks like she has half of a mustache. My next-door neighbor, Kara Hamilton knew that Stache had been rescued by me and I asked her if she could take the kitten for the night because my kitten at home started hissing at her. I was also on call for work that day and had to leave soon. Kara came and took Stache along with the food, blanket, and crate I had for her. The next day, I messaged Kara to see how Stache was doing and she told me she was doing good and that she knew of a great place that was willing to put her up for adoption. Kara took Stache to get adopted but when I asked her several times of the name of the place, she would not answer. Finally, she told me she took Stache to Pinellas County Animal Services on 4/6/18. I called Pinellas County Animal Services on 4/7/18 and asked for a kitten matching Stache's description and they told me they didn't have one. Something didn't feel right to me and I just wanted to make sure Stache was in good hands. On 4/9/18 I left work early to go to Pinellas County Animal Services.

Upon arrival at Pinellas County Services an employee was extremely rude to me when I started inquiring about Stache. The lady who worked there asked me to look up the cat on their computer database after showing her pictures of Stache. Then, I filled out a mandatory waiver that would allow me to see Stache and the lady took me back to where the cats are kept. The lady told me that Stache was pregnant and I immediately asked to take her and was denied. She told me that Stache has had her distemper vaccination but could not be given anything else due to her pregnancy. I said I was scared to leave her with them because I have heard stories of shelters euthanizing animals. The lady assured me that this place was big enough to take in plenty of animals and that Stache was not marked as a "danger", "fearful" or "quarantine," therefore, she would not be euthanized. I asked what the process would be for her if she was left in there and the lady said first they will keep her until she has her kittens. Then the kittens and her would be placed for adoption throughout the many shelters and partnerships they have with other facilities.  I asked why I couldn't just take her now and the lady told me she didn't think I look old enough to take on a responsibility of caring for a pregnant cat and the cost to re-claim her would be $150 plus additional fees due to her pregnancy. I was still dressed in my hospital scrubs and she kept insulting my young appearance. The lady would not budge, and her rudeness aggravated me, so I figured I would come back with someone else another day and take Stache. Before leaving I snapped a picture of the paper hanging on Stache's cage and asked the lady to take me where the "danger", "fearful", and "quarantine" cats were kept to see if she was lying. She took me to them and I seen that they were marked as what she said. I asked for the animal identification number for Stache and wrote it down and let her know I would call in for updates on her and if anything changes to please call me because I will take her if she is sick or on the verge of being put down.

Meanwhile, I started saving up money and finding a person who would go with me to pick up Stache because I don't think a pregnant cat should be locked in a crate at a shelter alone and scared. On 4/17/18 I called for an update on Stache and to inform them she would be picked up today, I received the most heartbreaking news. The man on the phone said she had been euthanized due to being aggressive. I told the man she wasn't labeled as "danger", "fearful", or anything to be put down and that I had gone to the shelter. I told him everything the lady told me and I was in complete shock that they would euthanize a 8month old pregnant kitten. He hung up on me when I asked to speak to a manager or supervisor. I left a bad review on Pinellas County Animal Services the same day.

Today, on 4/18/18 I received a voicemail from a lady named Sandy that is the customer service manager of Pinellas County Animal Services and returned her call. She didn't like the fact I left a bad review on their Facebook page and started twisting her story as to what happened to Stache. I don't understand why I received a phone call today instead of when they decided to euthanize Stache when I could of rescued her. I told her she needed to calm her voice because I wasn't going to talk over her while I am on my lunch break at work. She told me that Stache was put down due to being aggressive and I said that I have a picture as proof that she was not labeled that! Then she told me, "You brought a pregnant cat into government funding, did you really think that was a good idea? To leave us to spend money and resources on a pregnant cat that will have kittens." I corrected her and said, "No Kara, my next-door neighbor brought the kitten in and I came to rescue the kitten from you guys and your employee denied me access due to how young I looked when I am a healthcare professional and I am nearly 30 years old." The manager was screaming at me and would not let me speak so I told her I wouldn't accept her unprofessional tone and that I would from here on out record the conversation or I'll speak with her in person. She hung up on me. I am beyond heartbroken and couldn't hold back the tears! I wished there was something I could do to bring Stache back. The guilt of handing her over to Kara will forever haunt me and I will never forgive myself. I want people to know what this place really is! They lie to people and kill animals along with their unborn babies. They could have transported her to another facility they have partnerships to, they could have called me to take Stache, or released her back outdoors. There were plenty of options they could have done and they didn't.

I read previous reviews left on their website and a lot of people have said this happened to them as well. One person said they rescued 3 dogs and took them to Pinellas County Animal Services and the dogs were put down for no reason just days after when the person said if no one takes the dogs they would re-claim them. Good people who are doing the right thing by bringing in animals in case they have been lost from their homes and owners are really sending them in for a death sentence.

The last kitten from the litter has been rescued by myself and has a forever home with myself and Nicole, the lady who lives upstairs in the condominium complex. We have bought him several toys, blankets, beds, and scratching posts. He was taken to the community vet and he is a healthy very loved boy. We named him Slate due to his gorgeous gray color. I would very much appreciate it if you can let people know my story so society is aware of what happens at Pinellas County Animal Services. I think it is important to prevent this occurring to someone else's pet that happened to get lost on accident or an animal without a home. Animals deserve a fair chance at a forever home. I have attached pictures of Stache to this petition along with the picture I took at the shelter. I am working diligently in hopes of creating a law to ban euthanasia and educate people and shelters for alternative options & relocation of animals. Thank you for your time in reading my story, I can only hope people shares it. 


- Julijana

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