Feral Paws Rescue

     On Oct. 28, 2000, Warden Mendoza Powers gave orders to install gates over the openings the cats used to access shelter under the a portable office building.  The work was done during the day, in order to trap the cats underneath, so they would be left to starve to death. Above you will see the bodies of the dead kittens that were removed.

    When Warden Mendoza Powers was contacted about this, she denied it.  However, 3 employees of the prison smuggled in cameras inside and took pictures of the cats peering out from the air vents.Access was eventually given to volunteers to go under and remove the dead bodies, and the gates were then left open, giving the cats free access  The above picture shows a cat that suffered an inhumane and illegal death. So Warden Mendoza Powers was guilty of a crime!  

   The  Story of Warden Mendoza Powers 2002 until the beginning of 2005!  Acting Warden Mendoza Powers was replaced, by Warden Huskey that came out of retirement to help and clean up the problems that was taken place at Avenal State Prison not because of the cat program. But Warden Huskey did make that part of  the issues to address in the short time he was at Avenal State Prison. Warden Huskey supported the program to trap spay/neuter and release the cats.  Warden Huskey worked with us in helping to keep the TNR program at Avenal State Prison. Kathy Mendoza-Powers was placed into the Chief Deputy postion at Avenal State Prison. One step down from  the wardens position.  Kathy Mendoza-Powers would cover the wardens position when ever a warden was away from the prison.  But didnt have the power at that time to change any of the cat program at Avenal State Prison.  In 2006 when Kathy Mendoza-Powers was given the wardens position at Avenal State Prison. The inhumane trapping of the cats were the orders of Warden Kathy-Mendoza-Powers!

   The first estimate of 100 to 200 cats on the grounds was grossly under estimated.  The cats had lived at the prison for 20 years, and the population had grown to around 600.  Hundreds of the cats were tacken off grounds by volunteers to be spay/neuterd, tested for feline leukemia, feline aids, & internal, external parasites.  ALL test came back negative.  Hundreds of kittens were removed, hand raised by volunteers, spay/neutered & adopted to new families through the Calif. Feline Foundation.  Many hours & money donated by volunteers, Veterinarians, inmates of this program were beginning to reduce the population. 

   Warden Rowers came on board in 2003 & feeding stations were built by inmates from discarded materials.  They also maintained the feeding  & watering stations.  A grave yard was established by the inmates for the cats that died on grounds.  This was also maintained by the volunteer inmates.  Warden Rowers also issued a memo that all cats were to be treated humanely & any individuals, inmates or staff, causing harm, would be punished to the extent of the law.Warden Rowers retired & Acting Warden Mendoza Powers was in charge of the prison again! During the years of 2002 & 2003, 19 cats died on the prison grounds. 

  During the first 8 months of Acting Warden Mendoza Powers return, 102 cats died and many more cats were injured and mutilated as you can see by this picture of a kitten who was inhumanely trapped by prison personnel.  All feeding  stations had to be destroyed  and all cats had to be trapped and euthanized.  The prison had in fact been cited by OSHA because of excess feces in one area of the prison.  Ironically the volunteer inmates had been forbidden to clean up after the cats that lived in this hard pan area.  Upon contacting OSHA, we learned that there had been no order given for the cats to be destroyed. So that was a lie!

   Mendoza Powers was appointed to the position of Warden even though the Governor was aware of her practices.  So now when she retires her benefit package as Warden will be larger than it would have been for Acting Warden.  It's your tax dollar at work?

     

 

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