Dozens of furry friends looking for a new home

ENGLEWOOD, Fla. – An animal rescue shelter has been violating a zoning code for years, but they say they had no idea.

WINK News learned someone filed a complaint. Now, almost 50 cats and kittens have just days to find a new home.

About a week ago, Englewood Animal Rescue Sanctuary (EARS) found out they have been violating Sarasota County zoning codes for almost six years. The adoption center is only zoned to be a pet store, not an animal rescue shelter.

“Well we were very surprised first of all, but like other things that have happened in the past, we work as a unit. We’re a strong unit, we’ll get through this,” said Bobbi Austin, president of the EARS Board of Directors.

Donations keep the facility’s doors open and make sure the pets are healthy. EARS has just 17 days to find every furry friend a home.

“We’ve already had people come forth and say they’ll take three cats or four cats or whatever, and we’ll all take some too,” said Austin.

EARS is the only no kill, no cage shelter in the area. They hope to find all the cats foster homes while they ask for a code change.

Officials with Sarasota County say it could take several months to change the zoning code.

If you would like to adopt one of the cats, click here to visit the EARS website.