Cats Killed, Why?

For as many years as the old Hutch Manufacturing company has been closed down, a group of feral cats have made their home around the abandoned buildings which are now owned by the City of Loudon. According to locals, these cats are decedents of housecats owned by Maude Ferguson who died in 1985.

While the cats are feral, they are far from abandoned. Several folks in the area care for and feed the cats but none more so than Cissy Chapman, who grew up in the area. Ms. Chapman, retired judicial commissioner for both Loudon County and Lenoir City, has made it her mission to care for the cats. This includes feeding them every day, trapping them and having them spade and neutered. In every way Ms. Chapman has adopted these cats but allows them to stay on their home turf.

Last December, Loudon City manager, Ty Ross, confronted Ms. Chapman while she was feeding the cats. Ultimately, Mr. Ross threatened to have Ms. Chapman arrested for trespassing on city property while feeding the cats. Undeterred, Ms. Chapman continued to feed and care for the cats well understanding her rights under the law. All continued normal until last week.

Last week, Ms. Chapman noticed that each day she went to feed, there were fewer and fewer cats. By Thursday, there were only a couple of more than a dozen of the cats remaining. Out of curiosity, Ms. Chapman went to Loudon City Hall, which is just about a block from the Hutch property, to inquire if anyone knew anything about the missing cats. She spoke with both Ty Ross and his administrative assistant, Meghan Hull. Both denied knowing anything about the cats.

Through conversations with employees of the Loudon County Animal Shelter, it was discovered that Ty Ross' administrative assistant, Meghan Hull, had actually been trapping the cats and taking them to the shelter to have them euthanized. Ms. Hull and another Loudon employee had trapped and taken a total of 12 of the cats to the shelter to be put down. Unfortunately, before this was discovered, 9 of the 12 had already been put down including two that were pregnant. Three of the cats were saved and now have been found homes.

Several city council members, including Tim Brewster, have now become involved in the issue and are looking for answers. They contacted city manager Ross looking for answers about the cats.

In an email communication with the mayor and council, Mr. Ross wrote:

March 15, 2019, 4:47:16 PM
From: Ty Ross
To: Mayor &Council:

 In response to a request for an explanation/update on the situation with the cats at the Hutch Property please know that I looked into this matter today and discovered that Meghan Hull, of her own volition, began trapping on the Hutch property this week.  Her disclosure and apology to me is below.  She has been officially reprimanded and told to cease such behavior. This has been documented and placed in her personnel file.

Thanks,
 Ty Ross
 General Manager
City of Loudon/Loudon Utilities

March 15, 2019 4:24 PM
From: Meghan Hull
To: Ty Ross

Beginning Monday, March 11, 2019 I began live trapping inside of the former Hutch facility.  I used 4 traps, (including 1 LUB, 1 mine, 2 LCAS).    

Throughout the week I have transported a total of ten (10) wild cats and three (3) raccoons to the Loudon County Animal Shelter in the live traps.  On Thursday and Friday mornings Codes Enforcement Officer Travis Gray assisted me with transport.

The reason I did this was to relocate the many wild cats that have been abandoned and bred over the years.  I believed the facilities will be demolished in the near future.  I feel that the cats should be removed prior to demolition for fear of death or injury to the cats.

I apologize to you for not informing you of these events because I did not believe it was essential for you to know and I was taking care of it in an appropriate manner.

Thank you,
Meghan Hull

Obviously, something has gone very wrong. The issue will be discussed at the Loudon City Council meeting tonight, 3/18 6:30 pm at city hall for those interested in the matter.

Below are a couple of posts from Ms. Chapman's Facebook page.

Cissy Chapman Facebook post 1/9/19.

This is a pic of the 15-17 cats who live at the old hosiery mill-Ferguson house in Loudon. I, along with many other caring people, feed this feral colony of furbabies daily. They are descendants of Ms. Maude Ferguson’s cats. As a child I played with them & usually at any given time she had 35 or more cats. She passed in 1985 & the cats were on their own. Recently with the help of a wonderful animal lover we have found homes for their kittens so these are all adult or young adult cats. We have plans in the next few days- to trap these cats & PPAWS will be spaying/neutering them. Don’t know how it’s going to go, but I have to try as the City does not want the cats there. Being feral, but also being feed & looked after is the only way PPAWS can help; naturally they can’t assist in “strays “ as they might have an owner! After PPAWS serves these cats, they will be brought back, but their numbers won’t increase. Sadly nature will have to take its course . However, I intend to continue feeding & care for them as best I can. They will not be hungry & NO they do not attract the vultures! It will be the end of at least 60 years of cat descendants.

Cissy Chapman Facebook post 3/16/19.

Just an update for the wonderful people who care about the cats in Loudon. I have been blessed in many ways! Have determined that not all cats were killed!!! 3 escaped being trapped & after finding out what had happened, I went to shelter after LUB had dropped off additional cats- in time to stop the 4 they brought in from being killed. So, thank God at least 7 were saved from sure death! Sadly 9, including 2 pregnant females were killed at the city mgr assistant- Megan Hull’s ...direction based upon lies. I have copy of all paperwork that she & LUB worker signed, all dates & time stamped by shelter. When I went to Utilities. Building to ask Mr Ross if he knew where the cats were disappearing to, both he & Megan said they had no idea- didn’t know anything about it, why would they. This was Thursday about 4:00. I now have papers showing- by her signature- she delivered 2 cats to shelter for killing at approx. 1:45 PM. I find this disgusting on several levels.

Thanks to all for your support. It means so much. No animal should die like this & so senselessly. We have to do for them what they cannot do for themselves. All they ask is love- and give it back so unconditionally.

As a foot note, the Loudon County Animal Shelter is blameless in this matter. Policy requires that feral and wild cats brought to the shelter are to be euthanized due to disease and their wild nature.  

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3/18/19