Cat deaths lead to arrests

Two former Cloquet residents were arrested in Arkansas last week for allegedly leaving seven cats behind - with no source of water or food - when they moved away from Cloquet late last year. Four cats were dead by the time someone entered the apartment 18 days later. A fifth cat died the same day and two cats have survived.

Karlee Lynn Strum, 32, and Dominic James Welch, 26, were extradited to Minnesota this week from the White County jail in Searcy, Arkansas. They are each accused of 21 animal abuse crimes: seven counts of felony overwork/mistreat animals–torture, seven counts of misdemeanor overwork/mistreat animals–abandon, and seven counts of misdemeanor overwork/mistreat animals–deprive of food/shelter.

According to the criminal complaint, Strum and Welch left their 18th Street residence for Arkansas on Dec. 29. The cats were discovered on Jan. 16, when the reporting party contacted Carlton County Animal Rescue. CCAR told her to contact law enforcement.

Minnesota Federated Humane Societies, which investigates animal maltreatment and abuse throughout the state's 87 counties, helped with the investigation. The statewide organization praised the collaboration in this case with reporting parties, law enforcement, animal rescues and prosecutors, in this case that crossed state lines.

"Given the connection between animal cruelty and other crimes, our communities can be made safer when reports of animal abuse and neglect are taken seriously, investigated thoroughly and cases are charged appropriately," the group said in a statement Wednesday.

When they were discovered, three cats were still alive but "in rough shape." One of the cats died later that day, but the two who survived are doing much better, according to CCAR interim board president Leslie Pedro, who is fostering both animals.

"For what they've been through, they should really not trust people," Pedro said in an interview with the Pine Knot Tuesday. "But they're really attentive and loving. They're Velcro kitties."

Now named Frankie and Roger, the two surviving cats initially stayed with CCAR board member Erin Thompson and Meredith Kujula, intake coordinator for the relatively new nonprofit group. The two cats have been with Pedro since late January.

She said the veterinarian estimated that Frankie, an orange and white tabby, is about a year old. Roger, a black cat with some white on his belly, is closer to 9-10 months old. Both cats needed special food and subcutaneous fluids for close to two weeks, after allegedly being deserted without food or water. Pedro said they also have "a couple diseases that could have been done away with if they were vaccinated," which can lead to sores in the mouth if untreated.

"I'm still treating them," she said Tuesday.

According to the criminal complaint, two Cloquet police officers responded to the home, and called Welch and Strum to discuss the cats. Welch said he had a friend caring for the cats and provided his contact information. The friend told police he never agreed to watch the cats, and provided several screenshots of text messages showing he rejected the request to watch the cats. Strum gave the first name only of a friend she claimed was supposed to be watching the cats, but didn't give a last name or any kind of record of their conversation. Later she said her friend did not agree to watch the cats because Welch's friend was watching them.

According to the criminal complaint, Welch also told police he told Strum they should bring the cats with them, but she didn't want to. Police concluded that the couple allegedly "knew they did not make any arrangements for anyone to provide the necessary care for the seven cats in their apartment" when they left Cloquet.

A nationwide warrant was issued for their arrest on Feb. 13 and the couple were arrested the same day. As of Wednesday morning, both Welch and Strum remained in jail in Arkansas. Both had filed an application for a public defender in Minnesota on Feb. 13, but no hearings had yet been scheduled in the case. If convicted, each of the felony counts carries a maximum sentence of two years or a $5,000 fine, while the misdemeanor charges have a maximum sentence of 90 days and/or a $1,000 fine.

Pedro is happy the city is pursuing charges because that doesn't always happen.

"When law enforcement and the community stand up and say we're not going to allow animal abuse, it's amazing," she said.

Rescue

Meanwhile, the two surviving cats seem to have landed on their feet.

"I've fallen in love with Roger and plan to adopt him," Pedro said. "And my daughter has fallen in love with Frankie, so they will be staying within our family. I want to spoil them for the rest of their lives."

Pedro said Roger is a remarkably mellow cat, who doesn't mind being dressed up or modeling kitty sunglasses.

"We plan to have him be our spokesperson, our mascot," said CCAR board member Leanne Schmidt. "He'll be great for educational pieces, like how do you hold a cat or how to pick them up. He's just a ragdoll."

Carlton County Animal Rescue is a young and growing organization that formed over the past three years, stepping into the void left when the Friends of Animals Humane Society dissolved in 2018. The non-profit aims to care for pets that need new homes, and ultimately pair them with adoptive families. Some are strays, others are surrendered, and still others need a new place to live after their owners die or are incarcerated. A few are deserted.

They work with Missing Pets in the Northland, a much smaller volunteer group with 27,000 followers that spreads the word on Facebook about lost and found pets across the Northland.

Carlton County Animal Rescue began informally in 2021, was incorporated in June 2022, and received its nonprofit designation a year ago. They've officially been fostering animals since June and are working toward creating a physical shelter in the future.

Right now the rescue has 18 dogs in foster homes and 30 cats, with 11 adoptable now and 22 that will soon be available for adoption. They have a total of 33 foster homes, but right now the animals are housed in 16 or 17 of the homes.

The animal rescue group desperately needs more foster homes for cats and dogs, puppies and kittens. They especially need folks willing to house and walk a dog to step up. The animal rescue pays all the costs of fostering.

"We supply everything," Schmidt said. "They just need to be the loving home for a while."

Schmidt said they need more volunteers to head up the organization's many committees.

Like the building committee, which met last week.

"It's exciting to see people in the community who want to see a shelter in Carlton County, to see things taking off," Pedro said. "Hopefully sooner than later."

Want to know more? Carlton County Animal Rescue's updated website rolls out Feb. 29 at http://www.ccarescue.com. In the meantime, find them on Facebook @Carlton County Animal Rescue Community Group or call 218-900-7066 to volunteer or adopt a pet.

Minnesota Federated Humane Societies encourages people to report concerns of animal cruelty immediately, both to law enforcement and to their group online at http://www.mnfedhs.org.

Editor's note: This story was updated to reflect that Strum and Welch have been extradited to Minnesota. They were booked into the Carlton County jail on Feb. 21.