UPDATE: Sunday, May 24, 6:30 PM central standard time – I had a Facebook live with both Christina as well as Morgen Davis who went out there today and assessed the situation. From what we discussed during today’s live, I have removed the call of action. Morgen from Abel’s Legacy Rescue went to the property and spoke with the owner and you can find out more details when I post a Facebook live in its entirety shortly.
Dozens of Cats Reportedly Caught In Demolition Nightmare As Rescuer Begs For More Time
This story is for the cats’ sake/not the people involved
Jacksonville, Florida – Several dozen cats and kittens at the Ideal Mobile Home Park are at the center of a tense rescue situation after the property was reportedly sold to new owners about two months ago.
Kristina Gibbers of KindredKittenRescue tells me she has spent the last three years feeding, trapping, fixing, and medically caring for the cats at this mobile home park twice a day. She says the previous owners allowed her to care for the colony, but after the new owners took over, she was told the cats needed to be gone.
Kristina says she was originally given 30 days. But she tells me this was not just a simple matter of moving cats. She and her husband had to raise money, redo a barn on their own property, pour concrete over dirt floors, treat for termites, bring in new lumber, brace the roof, knock down stalls, and wait on electrical work so the cats could be moved responsibly.
She says they have already spent thousands out of pocket, with more donated, and that all the cats still on the property will need to be examined, updated, and microchipped before being moved into the sanctuary space.
The situation reportedly escalated after trees were cut down on the property, we’re told, on Friday. Kristina claims the cats were scared and not coming out to eat. She also alleges a tree was intentionally dropped on one of their traps. Cliff Cooper, listed in public records with Cooper Brothers Holdings LLC, reportedly said it was not intentional.
Kristina told me, “we have put our blood, tears everything we have into these babies.”
I also contacted Cooper Brothers Holdings LLC. After an initial no comment, I spoke with Cliff Cooper’s wife, who said Kristina came out aggressively. Kristina denies that. I was also told to contact the management company. I did, and the management company told me they have nothing to do with this situation.
Kristina says she is not asking to keep the cats there forever. She says she is asking for more time, especially after what she says happened over the past two days with the cats’ living conditions being disrupted.
According to Kristina, Cliff Cooper’s wife later asked what could be done to make things right. Kristina says she asked for enough time to get the remaining cats out safely, plus reimbursement for the damaged drop trap. Kristina says the wife agreed to donate $500 to The Kitten Sanctuary, including $250 for the trap, and asked her to keep them posted. Cooper’s wife also told me she had donated to the rescue, as well.
But as of the latest update, Kristina says trees were still being knocked down while cats remain on the property.
Also, it’s important (for me at least) to address the so-called elephant in the room that some animal advocates have a beef about this because the situation was allegedly “mishandled” and this did not need to happen.
If that’s you, that’s not why I’ve spent all afternoon working on this story.
Remember, I work for the animals and not the people. It’s principals over personalities.
Remember that please.
SOURCE: Kristina Gibbers, KindredKittenRescue; Sophia Public records