More cats than inmates at Fla. prison set to close

[November 16, 2011]  BELLE GLADE, Fla. (AP) -- Authorities say dozens of cats that snuck into a South Florida prison will be found new homes before the facility closes next month.

As many as 80 cats have burrowed under fences and taken up residence at the state-run prison in Belle Glade. Prisoners have been feeding the animals, even though rules prohibit that.

The 1,000-inmate prison closes Dec. 1. Officials tell The Palm Beach Post (http://bit.ly/tb03sC) that as of Monday, there are more cats than prisoners at the facility. Just 69 inmates remain awaiting transfers.

Palm Beach County animal control officers are removing the cats so they won't starve when the prison closes. They're offering to waive adoption fees to find them new homes.

Some of the cats have been euthanized because they were feral and couldn't be adopted.

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Information from: The Palm Beach Post, http://www.pbpost.com/

[Associated Press]

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