Wyo. Co. SPCA conditions stun officials

ATTICA, N.Y. (WIVB) - A day after State Police raided the Wyoming County SPCA, officials are painting a very sad picture of the embattled facility.

Authorities say they found cats crawling all over the place, and several had to be euthanized. Donated money may have been mishandled, but investigators say finding answers is like trying to find a needle in a haystack.

The Erie County SPCA, the State Police, and the Wyoming County District Attorney are conducting a joint investigation into possible animal abuse.and misuse of funds at the Wyoming County SPCA in Attica. State Police initiated their segment of the investigation three weeks ago based on a tip. And this week, troopers made their move.

NYS Police Major Chris Cummings said, "So we finally had someone who provided detailed information about what was going on inside the facility, which you would not necessarily see when you visit the facility. All the aspects of medication, and things like that."

Armed with search warrants, State Police and Erie County SPCA personnel donned their plastic tyvek suits and when they went in. Authorities were horrified by what they saw.

Gina Browning of the Erie County SPCA said, "The conditions were horrific. There were animals everywhere. Our first effort was to actually move equipment out, so that we had room to set up different stations to evaluate and process each animal."

Officials found more than 300 cats, most roaming freely outside of their cages. About half have been evaluated and six had to be put down.

"They were so far off that they never would have survived treatment, based on the level of malnourishment and dehydration. They never would have survived the treatment that requires anesthesia," said Browning.

Authorities say SPCA has received grant money over the years and are looking into how director Sue Davila, or other staff, might have used that money. And while it has been said Davila knew every one of the cats by name, officials say she did not put them in the records.

Wyoming County DA Donald O'Geen said, "There was no charts on any cage. There was no name, number, nothing. So I don't know how you would know which cat is where."

The Erie County SPCA says the count is now up to 371 cats total between the facilities in Attica, and the satellite office in Clarence that was re-opened Thursday. The Erie County SPCA has now taken over that satellite office, at the Eastern Hills Mall, and the animals from that location will be put up for adoption.