Hundreds of Cats Suffer at South Carolina Hoarder's Hands!

In July, PETA was notified of Sacred Vision Animal Sanctuary (SVAS), an animal "rescue" located near Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Reports indicate that as many as 300 cats and several dogs at this facility are regularly deprived of veterinary care and kept in two filthy, severely crowded storage units that are disease-ridden and that reek of ammonia from the animals' accumulated waste. Cats at SVAS are stacked on top of one another in tiny wire crates and have no room to stretch or walk around—let alone exercise. Weeks worth of evidence makes it clear that SVAS operator Elizabeth Owen does not keep up with cleaning tasks. Litterboxes and cages at the facility regularly overflow with feces and contaminated food. Many of the animals at SVAS suffer from a wide array of debilitating, painful illnesses and dangerous parasites.


Several cats have advanced infections that severely limit the animals' ability to eat, breathe, and/or see. Sick cats are caged with or next to uninfected cats and allowed to roam freely through the premises, further spreading contagious diseases and what is already a severe flea infestation that's been allowed to worsen. According to SVAS' own website, some of these animals have been constantly caged for their entire lives. The cats imprisoned at SVAS have no quality of life and no hope of recovery in these filthy, disgusting, and cruel conditions.

PETA notified Horry County officials, who have jurisdiction to hold SVAS accountable, immediately upon receipt of the initial allegations. Six extremely sick cats were seized, and a dying cat named Elvis—who had been allowed to suffer from a ruptured facial tumor for weeks—was finally euthanized at a local veterinary clinic. Citations were issued, and even though county officials later told PETA that Owen was found guilty on these charges, court records indicate that the case was dismissed!

PETA has recently received additional complaints and corroborating photos alleging that the facility remained filth-ridden and unsanitary and that animals continued to suffer from untreated conditions (such as eye irritation, upper respiratory infection, hair loss, eye discharge and more). PETA once again notified officials, and a veterinarian was asked to examine the animals. Owen hid some of the worst cases during the officials' visit, but the inspecting veterinarian saw plenty of cases of terrible suffering.

Please contact Horry County officials and let them know that there is no justification for any further delays—the animals at SVAS have suffered long enough. Urge officials to do the right thing—ask them to remove all animals from SVAS' custody without delay and to prosecute the parties responsible for the animals' suffering.

https://secure.peta.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=3317

It’s totally unbearable. Please guys, sign up this petition. Thank you!