I agree. This house has caused sale prices in this block to remain well below the surrounding areas. It's unacceptable for the city to ignore this eye sore any longer. My taxes are some of the highest on the block and I'm sick and tired of a few properties dragging down the value of our neighborhood. It's time the city stepped up and enforced their code enforcement regulations.

Your concern has been received and forwarded to the Department of Animal Care and Control so that proper inspection and handling can take place accordingly. If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact us at 804-646-5573. We appreciate your communication that helps us in “Building The Best Richmond” together

There is also an outstanding issue with this same property for code violations I recommend keeping Tod issue open and addressing all issues in a coordinated visit by multiple inspectors. Thank you

This issue has already been adressed to the animal care and control department and nothing has been done in TWO YEARS!! This is why I have reported the issue to the city. It is more than an issue of having cats around. It is a health hazard due to the unsanitary nature of the property where the cats have taken to using the garden as a litter box, they have been seen killing squirles because they are hungry, and the food left laying about in the days the home owner does decide to stop by attract rodents and possum. PLEASE DO NOT PUT THIS OFF ON ANIMAL CONTROL, THIS IS A CITY ISSUE.

Sarah, thank you so very much for your concerns. This matter has been not only addressed to Animal Care and Control but to Code Enforcement as well. As these issues do not fit in the realm of SeeClickFix issues, this request has been closed after being forwarded to the appropriate departments.

Our concern is that this issue will fall on deft ears.... I realize that the issue has been routed to the appropriate groups but there is no way for us to follow the issue once it is transferred (ie. like SeeClickFix). I'd suggest the animal control and code enforcement agents contact the neighbors that have addressed concerns on this issue and schedule a time to meet with them and visit the property. This issue has been deferred to both groups over the past several years with no resolution to the problems. A coordinated effort is the best solution.

Sarah, thank you so very much for your concerns. This matter has been not only addressed to Animal Care and Control but to Code Enforcement as well. As these issues do not fit in the realm of SeeClickFix issues, this request has been closed after being forwarded to the appropriate departments. Both departments are aware of the situation and working to correct matters. Please feel free to contact ACC at 804-646-5573 and/or Code Enforcement at 804-646-6398. We appreciate your communication that helps us in “Building The Best Richmond” together.

Why is the City of Richmond cutting and pasting a previous response and just closing the issue?

Shouldn't they address the issue that residents say has been left unattended for 2 years?

@City of Richmond, Residents have a right to question the City's commitment when issues go unattended for 2 years. In high density areas of Richmond, these issues impact a large number of constituents. Please go through SeeClickFix and look at the number of issues unresolved by the City of Richmond.

@City of Richmond, can you elaborate on what it means when you say this has been "addressed to Animal Care and Control but to Code Enforcement as well"? Is there an actual ticket created in their system? Can you create that ticket or have ACC and CE do that and post it here? Are they taking any steps? Clearly whatever has been happening here has not been working. Unfortunately, when one reads through this issue, it's clear that we're NOT “Building The Best Richmond together."

@City of Richmond, the problem is that a number of issues on SeeClickFix have been unresolved by the City...especially enforcement issues. Taxpayers shouldn't have to wait for resolutions at the City's convenience...2 months is too long, so 2 years is indifference by the City. In higher density areas of Richmond, these issues impact larger numbers of constituents and thus need to be handled promptly.

RVA Neighbor and Randolph Ranger, thank you both so very much for your concerns. The property owner, who still lives in the house, has been contacted by ACC, job# 43661, and is working to resolve the feral cat issue. Per ACC, she is allowed to have the cats, hers or feral in her home. There is no law or violation in regards to the cats inside of the residence. ACC also states that there is no kitty litter in the yard to cause concern at the time of inspection. All of the owner's cats are properly vaccinated and spayed/neutered, per ACC. As far as Code Enforcement, the only complaint that is citable at this time is the overgrown weeds, CRS# 20020914849 which is being addressed. Code Enforcement nor ACC are allowed inside the home without the owner's permission. If there are other violations not mentioned in this request, please do so now. Again, both departments are aware of the situation and working to correct matters. Please feel free to contact ACC at 804-646-5573 and/or Code Enforcement at 804-646-6398. We appreciate your communication that helps us in “Building The Best Richmond” together.

Regardless on how others feel about this update, thank you for the update. It helps when posters better understand what is being done to help resolve their concern/issue. Hopefully, the city can do a better job keeping an open dialogue via SeeClickFix. Thanks again.

@City of Richmond, thank you for the update. Residents get worried when their posts go unanswered for prolonged periods of time. Regular updates to ongoing issues would alleviate those concerns.

@City of Richmond, I'll agree with @RVA Mama Bear and @RVA Neighbor -- many thanks for the detailed reply.

Yes, thank you for the update. However, I live next door to this house, as in I can open my window, lean out and touch the house. No one lives in the house, if they do they must not use electricity. I have been here over 2 years nows and have never seen a light on, and have only seen the woman who feeds the cats enter the house. As far as I know there is a limit on how many animals one can have resideing in their house, and I believe 15 is a bit over the limit. I know there is no kitty litter in the front yard, i mearly stated they use the front garden as a litter box. The state the cats are in, there should at least be a violation of animal neglect.

These cats are NOT well fed. They get food once a week or so, and sadly drink the water puddled on the concrete. I guess the best way to get my point across is my taking photos of the animals. This woman thinks she's helping these cats and what she is really doing is causing a breading ground for cats (who have reproduced in the last year....there were 4 kittens who have now turned into 4 underfed cats) and dieseas.

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This is correct. Everyone on the block knows that this woman does not live in the house and that she has turned the place into a cat recreation area. What does it take to get the city to act. As long as you pay taxes you get the right to let the house stand there and become an eye sore as well as a zoo. The cats have been all over the street and everyone yards. WE all know the cats are not licensed or well feed. If ACC thinks the cats are fine then they shouldn't have a problem hanging out here every day and seeing what really happens at the house.

I have notified Councilman Charles Samuals of the situation in hopes of resolving these issues.

I think contacting Charles Samuels is the way to go. And maybe getting animal control or someone to put out cat traps for the feral ones?

Start taking pictures. If this issue is not resolved by the city, you can file a lawsuit against the homeowner and sue them for nuisance and the city for disparate treatment because they do not address cats the same way they address dogs. This type of nuisance should be addressed. The city has a limit for dogs owned by one person and the same should be true for cats.

I just emailed Charles Samuels again in hopes that he can meet us, at the property, sometime next week.

This is our chance.... a meeting with Charles Samuels has been scheduled for Tues 10/22/13, 9:30 am at City Hall. Please contact me if you would like to attend, 804-363-1310 or RogerBouchard@yahoo.com

Roger,

Thank you for all you are doing to help with the issue. I'm sorry I did not respond earlier and was unable to attend the meeting with Mr. Samuels. How did it go? Please let me know if there is anything I can do to help. Thank you again!

Give me a call 363-1310 or email me RogerBouchard@yahoo.com and I can let you know the status.

This complaint was posted 6 months ago. What has been done by the City so far?

Sadly, nothing from what I can tell from reading these comments.

See Click Fix is a real joke. New name: See Click Nix.

I met with Charles Samuals and Mark Wachner (Animal Control) last fall. At the time, Mark spoke with the property owner and based on what he was told, she was in compliance with the city codes. However, if the property is abandoned and the cats are living there... that is another issue... I'd recommend documenting the current status of the residence (i.e. taking photos of home and cats over the next several weeks). When you have the information, we can contact Mark directly. Please keep me in the loop... my contact info is part of this conversation chain.

3/18/2014 - These case files have been closed and there is no further action needed at this point. The property owner, who still lives in the house, has been contacted by ACC, job# 43661, and is working to resolve the feral cat issue. Per ACC, she is allowed to have the cats, hers or feral in her home. There is no law or violation in regards to the cats inside of the residence. ACC also states that there is no kitty litter in the yard to cause concern at the time of inspection. All of the owner's cats are properly vaccinated and spayed/neutered, per ACC. As far as Code Enforcement, the only complaint that is citable at this time is the overgrown weeds, CRS# 20020914849 which is being addressed. Code Enforcement nor ACC are allowed inside the home without the owner's permission. If there are other violations not mentioned in this request, please do so now. Again, both departments are aware of the situation and working to correct matters. Please feel free to contact ACC at 804-646-5573 and/or Code Enforcement at 804-646-6398. We appreciate your communication that helps us in “Building The Best Richmond” together.