Cat boardinghouse owner given jail term

Thu., Nov. 2, 2006

Associated Press The Spokesman-Review

TWIN FALLS – The owner of a cat boardinghouse where more than 300 felines were removed in April after complaints of sick animals has been sentenced to six months in jail and six months probation.

Janet Rasmussen, who owned Rocky Mountain Cat Resort, was sentenced Tuesday by 5th District Magistrate Judge Howard Smyser.

Authorities removed 323 cats from Rasmussen’s facility in south-central Idaho in April and found all of them living with ear mites and in unsanitary conditions. Because some cats were blind or dying from illness, 117 were euthanized. Others were found already dead.

In August, Rasmussen entered guilty pleas to 19 counts of animal cruelty and 51 counts of animal neglect. Each of the misdemeanor counts carried a maximum sentence of six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.

A psychiatrist said Rasmussen was mentally ill at the time of her crimes.

“I accept you have some mental problems,” Smyser said during sentencing, the Times-News reported. But “people are simply responsible for their choices.”

Besides her jail time and probation, Rasmussen, 61, was ordered to pay restitution to the agencies that removed the cats and cleaned up the cat boardinghouse. She was also banned from working with animals, but is allowed to own two neutered cats.

“I am just so sorry that my babies had to suffer because of my inability to care for them,” Rasmussen said.

But when Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Amanda Wright asked Rasmussen why she never removed dead cats, Rasmussen said she didn’t have enough time and didn’t know they were dead.

“I got to take care of the living today. I’ll get there when I can,” Rasmussen said.

Complaints about the cat boardinghouse led to the inspection in April. One of those complaints came from a woman in Michigan who bought a cat from Rasmussen for $600, but said the cat arrived with such severe ailments that a veterinarian told her the cat should be destroyed.

That cat was instead treated for tapeworms, an upper respiratory tract infection, blood in its feces, a urinary tract infection, ear mites, diarrhea and an infection in both eyes.

Local journalism is essential.

Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible.

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.