Depending who you ask, Ferree Kennels, in McKeesport, is either a mom-and-pop operation just trying to uphold the law … or a house of horrors where innocent cats and dogs die grisly deaths. Feral cats and stray dogs are killed there after being taken off the streets.
“We are against all forms of capture and kill,” says Candice Zawoiski of Voices for Animals of Western Pennsylvania, one group that opposes Ferree Kennels’ animal-control contracts. “There are other methods available. They should not be killing animals as a solution.”
The kennel, run by Ken Ferree, has animal-control contracts with more than two dozen municipalities outside Pittsburgh, including West Mifflin, Homestead and Versailles. Ferree picks up stray and feral cats and dogs; if no owner claims the animal, the animal has no identification, and no shelter space is available, he euthanizes it. By state law, dogs must be held for at least 48 hours before they may be euthanized. But there is no required holding time for cats, and Ferree euthanizes them by the end of the business day. Also upsetting to animal-rights activists is the method he uses: asphyxiation with carbon monoxide.
Asphyxiation is “definitely legal,” says Dena Fitzgerald, operations director at the Animal Rescue League — but it remains controversial. Gassing animals is “considerably less humane, because the animal does have the feeling that they are suffocating,” Fitzgerald says.
The ARL euthanizes pets by injecting them with sodium pentobarbitol, a method preferred by the Humane Society and other groups. “Injection is not hard to learn to do humanely. It causes the animal the least amount of stress and pain,” she says.
The ARL has itself been at the center of a well-publicized controversy involving its contract with the City of Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh officials have begun talking about contracting with animal-control services outside the city … but if Ferree is any indication, animal control can be controversial anywhere.
A loose collective of animal lovers has been campaigning against Ferree for years. In December 2006, they collected more than 1,000 signatures on a petition that eventually cost Ferree his contract with McKeesport.
One activist, and a major impetus behind the McKeesport decision, Carolyn Leitzell, has tangled with Ferree in court. She posted a placard on her fence at her home in Versailles, warning residents to keep their animals close at hand because Ferree would catch them and break their necks. Ferree filed suit against her, though the case was eventually dismissed.
Ferree’s work for Forward Township has been suspended for two months, according to township secretary Pam Balogh, because of a resident’s complaint about his brusque demeanor. Township supervisors will decide whether to reinstate Ferree’s contract at a June 7 meeting
Prior to that decision, on the drizzly afternoon of June 3, protesters held a demonstration at Ferree’s kennel, opposing his new contract with West Elizabeth. Roughly 20 protesters — and a huge, drooling dog named Beethoven — stood outside the nearly unmarked kennel.
The protesters held signs saying “Cruelty, thy name is Ferree” and “Stop Killing West Elizabeth Cats.” Passing cars — along with a Port Authority bus and a fire engine — beeped in support.
Dede Luterman, of Squirrel Hill, acknowledged that housing feral cats can be a problem. “Some shelters have a kill policy. I can live with that,” she said. But “gas is horrible.”
“Euthanizing animals by gas pipe — that’s barbaric,” agreed protester Sherry D‘Antonio, of Versailles Borough. “I’m embarrassed to say I’m from Pittsburgh. It just has to change.”
Others contend there is no reason for putting healthy animals down by any method. VFA’s Zawoiski says that the group hopes municipalities like West Elizabeth would manage feral cats using a trap-neuter-release system instead.
About 45 minutes into the protest, a Dodge Durango pulled up, towing three motorcycles in a U-Haul trailer. Three men and two women emerged; “I’m Mr. Ferree!” one of them announced. One of the women from the truck yelled, “Keep the cats off the fucking streets!”
Ferree called McKeesport police; a van carrying three officers arrived within minutes. The officers secured a promise from the protesters not to block access to the kennel and then left.
Some protesters hurled insults at Ferree and his companions, calling them “white trash” and “fat ass.” As Ferree backed the truck into the garage, he remarked, “I’m sorry; the fat ass can’t hear you.”
A few moments later, another pickup truck — this one fitted out with cages lashed into the bed — pulled up. It backed into the kennel and Ferree closed the garage doors. Some protesters claimed a dog had been in one of the cages and demanded to see it. Ferree refused; a protester called police back to the scene, but officers said they couldn’t force Ferree to let them in.
In a phone interview that evening, Ferree said the protesters’ ire was misdirected.
“Ever since cartoons were out, the dog-catcher has always been demonized,” he says. The protesters are “animal radicals,” Ferree says. “These are dangerous people; they only see with blinders on.”
He says the problem lies with “the big R”: responsibility on the part of pet owners. If owners kept closer tabs on their animals — and had them spayed or neutered — he wouldn’t have to catch or euthanize them.
“This isn’t Disney, they don’t all have homes,” Ferree says of the animals he catches. And often, euthanasia is the only option. “There is no magical pied piper who is going to come in and play his flute and lead the cats out of town.”
He says there are differing opinions about the best method of euthanizing animals, adding, “I can’t change the laws, I just enforce them.” Ferree declined City Paper‘s request to tour his facility. But state officials inspect the kennel, unannounced, four times each year, and Ferree’s last five inspection reports, available on the state Department of Agriculture Web site, give satisfactory reports. The most recent one, from Jan. 18, includes the comments “Kennel looks good. Very clean.”
This article appears in Jun 7-13, 2007.
Although Ken Ferree is no poster child for warm and fuzzy, the problem did not start with him.
We still need to face the constant problem of pet ownership irresponsibility. There are certainly enough opportunities for spaying and neutering which would obviously reduce the need for do-gooders like Ferree.
Responsibility is generally a two way street. It’s just unfortunate the those upset most by Mr. Ferree’s chosen method of ‘public service’ are the ones who are most responsible when it comes to pet ownership. Instead of pounding the pavement in front of the Ferree house of Euthanasia, try starting a campaign of door to door pet sterilization information. Maybe both sides may just be able to meet in the middle.
Part of the responsibility is with irresponsible owners who let their animals breed, yes. Part of the responsibility is also with the city/state/county authorities that allow that breeding to go unpenalized, continue to let pet stores sell puppies and kittens when shelters are teeming, and condone the unacceptable killing methods Ferree uses by making them legal. Part of the responsibility is also with a community that chooses to treat animals as commodities, that respects the lives of “non-owned” animals so little that the Ken Ferrees of this world can make a nice comfortable living killing them inhumanely.
I have encountered this man on a few occasions. My dogs have escaped a few times from the yard, and enjoyed roaming free. They were never a threat to anyone and would usually return to the yard after abrief stroll around the block. We were trying to be responsible pet owners, however a dog with a mission can be clever. They have dug their way out and broken a gate to get out. Mr Ferree was never interested in public safty or of the safty of the animals. He is interested in one thing only $$$$. Not to mention his arrogance, he is disrespectful and rude. If his concerns were genuine he would not be so quick to murder a family pet. His concern should be returning lost or runaway pets to thier family’s, instead he rush’s to rid himself of any liability, if he captures an animal and cannot recover any $ he murders the animal.
The only reason his kennel is clean is because he doesnt keep animals there long enough for them to make it dirty…and he is a murderer and has to live with the the rest of his life. maybe he should see what the animals go through.
I know too much to know he is NOT a good person.
Also one thing Ferree has said is that your pet is your property….Well if the damn pet is my property then what makes Ferree allowed to kill it without my permission…He can talk and talk but every thing that he says is BS. im sure there is more to come about all of this
Ferree Kennels is inspected once or twice per year
not 4 times. The State Dog Wardens only check heat,ventilation,food,water,space.His CO method produced from a gasoline engine isn’t checked.
After the June, 2006 counsel meeting in Versailles, Pa. Walt Winkler-Pres. of Counsel told Alicia Sowa and I that Mr.Ferree is known for picking up cats,and if untagged he breaks their necks right in the back of his truck.When I posted a notice on my fence with this information Mr. Winkler and Mr. Ferree filed charges against, which were dismissed.
Carolyn Leitzell
I believe he is a horrible humane being, I feel bad for anyone who comes in contact with him. LIFE…only one can take it away and Ferree is NOT him
i agree with all of you my dog recently got out of my backyard she is 5 mo old i live in baldwin twp she got out wed around 4 pm no one ever notified me of finding my dog i left 3 voicemails with the police station. on thursday i called and called and finally i found out that my dog was at ken ferree kennels in mckeesport i was rudely talked to hung up on twice and told me that if i wasnt there with 100.00 dollars and proof my dog had a license that she would be killed when i arrived after leaving my job, i was told i needed an appointment , after screaming at him that he did not say this on the phone he called the cops on me, so in turn called the cops on him for not returning my animal to me. while i was waiting for him to arrive at his so called kennel, there are no windows just two big garage doors with the windows darkened and music so loud you can here it from the sidewalk even with the traffic someone needs to shut this guy down and he has the nerve to call himself a dog law enforcer with a fake badge around his neck after a struggle my dog was returned he would not let me enter the building nor could i see the conditions in which my dog was in i was told my dog is in a 8×10 cell with 10 other dogs , i got the fan on they are ok he said
I have also had a not so nice conversation with Ken Ferree I will not call him MR he does not deserve that title. He threatened me about my animal just because a neighbor called and complained that my 8lb little weiner dog was in her yard. He never even came out he couldn’t identify my dog in a line up but he was quick to threaten me over the phone on her word and to write me a citation which i have to appear in court on on Nov 3. If anyone wishes to show up at this hearing I would love to see this man go down,Nov 3, 2009 at 915am at the Mark Wilson, magistrate on Park Avenue in Monongahela. He has told this neighbor who is just crazy to apprehend my dog and he is taking it. My dog is not a threat to anyone he is so loveable, I am so in fear of this man and I will be taking this to the Carroll Twp. council meeting to have this man removed from his sick sort of power. I hope you read this Ken because you will never get your filthy hands on my dog. Trust me it wont happen.
Some people devote way too much time, money and energy to animals. They even lovingly share the same bacteria…seemingly lowering their mentalities to the level of their ‘beloved pets’. Living in the real world takes a lot more than loving your pets. Get Real.
nov 2009
I too,I am sorry to say, have had a run in with Ken Feree
He only spoke to me on the phone and never met my two loving ang gentle dogs that some crazy man new in the neighborhood called the cops on for barking at him as he walked past my house. Ken Feree called my house and told me that I will be going to court and I am lucky that the Judge sets the fine and not him because he would see to it that I pay $300.00 per dog in fines and spend 90 days in jail. I would consider that a threat and wish I had it on tape to take to court with me in Dec. 2009 This man is flying high on some “Dog Officer” badge (thats what he called himself) the only reason I know his name is because I have caller ID he never introduced himself by his name. My many condolences to anyone who has come in contact with him now and in the future. He obviously never had animals growing up and is a heartless person.
I know of this dog catchers tactics all too well. He recently euthanized a cat that belonged to my family member and then joked about the cats name with another neigbor who calls him in efforts to cause conflict whenever she sees a dog or cat outside. The cat that he killed was on the porch of its home, with a nametag on and he took the cat and killed it. This is ridiculous. This man is inhumane!
I see these posts are a few years old. After reading about this IDIOT FERREE, I most certainly hope KARMA Has caught up with this bastard. What an evil person IDIOT FERREE must be!
Hell will be too good for him. Mr.Ferree is the most dishonest evil man i ever met. He takes advantage of women and the lower income families. This man should not be allow to be near any living thing. He is rude and as i told him God will set a special in Hell for him
Tell you what, I don’t live in the area that this sub human animal control officer lives in, however, if I did, well, First try the legal methods of removing him from this type of job, then, have a few words with him with a few “no neck” kinds of people with you, and if this guy cant see the light, well, the proper channels have been tried. Sometimes, it pays to handle things yourself and if the powers that be know this guy to be such a prick, well, I doubt any “investigation” will go very far with so many people to investigate since everyone who talks to this guy wants to strangle him. (laughing) Personally, if this person killed my pet with his “legal method”, I’m almost… now I said almost, thats not 100% now… but…I’m almost sure that they would find him with his lips crazy glued to his trucks exhaust pipe. You know? If its good for the animals, it would be GREAT for him. Just 2 cents there…
Look into it now. The state inspector that inspects his kennel is his friend and we gave proof about that and gave given it to the big guys at the state!! I hope Steve (dog warden) loses his job along with ken ferree
First of all hankbat 1, your comment is so pathetic. Guessing no animal never could stand to be around you … Second of all , this “dog cop” needs to somehow make himself feel superior to animals, because in the human race, he is nothing and he knows it. He has to pick on helpless animals to make him feel better about himself.
He chooses to use gas, he could use lethal injection. He enjoys that they suffer
He is an asshole, he told me if i didnt come with $150 within 48 hours he was going to put my pup loki down and shared the fact that he doesn’t like pittbulls. He started to talk really fast so i wouldn’t get his address. Which i only got half and he hung up.
He is beyond an asshole. Got my 2 Pitts, then demanded I meet him at a specific time or else. He also charged extra for the weekend. Verbally assaulted myself and my husband, then called the police and lied while pointing his gun at me. The corrupt in his pocket police came and arrested my husband. The story continues it was a nightmare!
The Animal Rescue League of Pittsburgh of Western Pennsylvania actually list Ferree Kennel as one of the places to go if you have a lost animal or have found a lost animal?
How can they recommend him? Ask the people in charge.
The Animal Rescue League of Pittsburgh posts this “disclaimer” about “animal kennels” which are owned by individuals that pick up stray/lost/problem animals notified by police when they are called by anyone outside of Pittsburgh. (see post above) These for profit privite companies that are licence by the state and their facilities are supposed to be inspected a few times per year but are not required to let anyone else into their facilities to observe the handling of picked up animals and conditions.
They are contracted with by municipalities/cities/towns/townships ect. outside of Pittsburgh to pick up lost animals, strays, problem animals.See link below.
http://www.animalrescue.org/i-lost-my-pet/
There euthanasia policy is usually painful “gassing” , instead of injection of approved euthanasia medication used is pentibarbitol, a seizure medication. In large doses it quickly renders the pet unconscious. It shuts down the heart and brain functions usually within one or two minutes. It could be given by shot or by IV in one of their legs. These “Animal Contol” companies probably don’t use the most humane method because of cost and they don’t bother to get easy training. And of course their is no one around to witness the inhumane treatment many of these animals are inflicted with at end of their tragic lives.
If no one claims animal within 48 hours and if the animal has no collar with a current ID tag they may euthanize as soon as they can.
The Animal Rescue League of Pittsburgh cites a number of these contractors because in many cases if you loose an animal or need help picking up an injured animal there is no alternative to choose who comes to try and “help” you when you call the local police.
There is no competion for this service in all towns.
The City of Pittsburgh has its own “Animal Care Rescue” Department that gives all rescued animals to the Animal Rescue League of Pittsburgh to care for until someone claims or adopts. Pittsburgh Animal Rescue League is “No kill” facility but that doesn’t mean at some point some animals are humanely euthanized.