Officials say it's a noble cause, but the cats have to be taken somewhere else. Though the head of animal services says the couple who runs the facility does a good job, the facility smells strongly of urine embedded into the soil."/>
Officials say it's a noble cause, but the cats have to be taken somewhere else. Though the head of animal services says the couple who runs the facility does a good job, the facility smells strongly of urine embedded into the soil."/>
Officials say it's a noble cause, but the cats have to be taken somewhere else. Though the head of animal services says the couple who runs the facility does a good job, the facility smells strongly of urine embedded into the soil." />
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Alachua County must find homes for 300 cats

1 min read
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GAINESVILLE (AP) – Who should care for hundreds of abandoned house cats in Alachua County? A sanctuary whose property isn’t approved for it or the county shelter, which would pay to support or euthanize the animals?

That’s the debate over “Haven Acres Cat Sanctuary,” where 300 cats live in enclosed pens.

Officials say it’s a noble cause, but the cats have to be taken somewhere else. Though the head of animal services says the couple who runs the facility does a good job, the facility smells strongly of urine embedded into the soil.

Pennie and Steve Lefkowitz have run the operation since 2003. If the sanctuary is closed, it will take months to get the animals transferred somewhere else. The county can only take 30 every few weeks.