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From: http://www.thewpbfchannel.com/news/2797367/detail.html

Cat Sanctuary Under Investigation

Cat Rescuers Fear Operator Is Keeping Cats In Crowded Conditions

POSTED: 4:51 pm EST January 27, 2004

CLEWISTON, Fla. -- An investigation into a cat sanctuary in Clewiston is
under way after complaints of animal cruelty.
The facility, 10th Life Cat Sanctuary, advertises that it offers a fully
enclosed, screened habitat for unwanted or feral cats.
While donations are welcome, visitors are not.
When Eyewitness News 25 approached a volunteer to ask for a tour, the
volunteer asked the TV station's photographer to take the camera off of
him, and asked the camera crew to leave.
The volunteer said his name was Bill, and he said all the cats at the
sanctuary were well cared for.
But cat advocates like Jay Senter are not sure. Senter said his cat
rescue group, Friends of Surfside Cats, donated more than $16,000 to
take care of their 12 cats.
"(The sanctuary) gets (money) from foolish people like us -- frantic,
last-minute, panicked people (who fear) that the cats may be killed, and
we write a check and don't investigate, because the pictures on the Web
site look slick," Senter said.
Senter said he fears that inside of the building, hundreds more cats are
kept stacked in carrier crates instead of being outside as 10th Life
advertises.
A Hendry County animal control officer said there are hundreds more cats
inside, but also said it was a temporary situation and the cats are not
living in filth.
But the man who operates 10th Life, Maury Swee, of Boca Raton, has a
long history of animal abuse in Palm Beach County, officials said. Palm
Beach County Animal Care and Control found 400 cats living in filth in
Swee's home last year.
After repeated citations, Swee moved the cats two hours away to
Clewiston.
Because of complaints, the Hendry County Sheriff's Office launched an
investigation into 10th Life, assisted by state agriculture officers.

thank you for the article.

bob