Indiana: Windy Johnston was permanently suspended from the Cat Fanciers' Association in 2004. Then what?

I came across an article from 2004 in which more than 100 cats were removed from a house in which "the walls and floors in the home were covered with feces and urine".  This owner of the cats is listed as 27-year-old Windy Johnston. 

It also mentions in the article that Johnston was selling Turkish Vans, a breed of cat.

Whatever happened with this case - and the cats? The article finishes by saying she was ticketed and told to vacate the house, which makes me think it was condemned by health officials. The cats were to be held until a judge decided whether or not Johnston could have them back. 

"104 Cats Allegedly Seized From Windy Johnston's East-Side Home"
INDIANA -- Animal control investigators said 104 cats were taken from an east-side home last week after receiving a complaint about the home.

Officials served a search warrant on 27-year-old Windy Johnston's home in the 100 block of North Euclid Street and allegedly found the animals living in filthy conditions, RTV6's Ericka Flye reported.

Investigators first went to the home last year after receiving a complaint, but found 37 healthy cats with the proper identification and vaccinations. But last week, officials said the walls and floors in the home were covered with feces and urine.

"(We found) feces with mold on it. It's been there so long it's turning moldy," Animal Care and Control spokeswoman Margie Smith Simmons said.

Officials said many of the cats were in poor health. They were all seized and the ones that can be saved are being nursed back to health, Flye reported.

Officials believe Johnston was planning to sell the cats.

"We found some information on the Internet where she is listing Turkish Vans for sale, which is a type of cat," Simmons said.

Johnston was ticketed and told to vacate the house. She faces numerous charges in connection with the case.

The cats will remain in custody until a judge decides whether she can get them back, Flye reported. -- The Indy Channel - March 17, 2004

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

WINDY JOHNSTON PLEAD GUILTY TO OPERATING A KENNEL WITHOUT A LICENSE - RATHER THAN ANIMAL CRUELTY

The only thing I could find is a snippet of an article from The Indianapolis Star, dated April 3, 2004 (but it's a pay to view site): "Windy Johnston also pleaded guilty to operating a kennel without a license... She also is prohibited from owning more than two cats in Marion County ... of the cats will be adopted through the national Cat Fanciers Association."

I can only surmise that this was nearly 13 years ago and maybe people didn't know how to prosecute for cruel confinement like they do now? Feces and urine everywhere and a house getting condemned with 100+ cats stuffed inside is cruel confinement!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

Two months later, in June 2004, the CFA (Cat Fanciers’ Association) permanently suspended her from their group. 

Disciplinary Suspensions/Probations (updated November 4, 2016)
The Cat Fanciers’ Association, Inc. Board of Directors has directed that CFA services be suspended for the following clubs/individuals for the period of time indicated.

The Cat Fanciers' Association Inc. provides this information as a public service. Information contained herein is believed to be accurate, but is not guaranteed. For more information, or to determine if a person or cattery has been reinstated, contact the Cat Fanciers' Association, Inc. at our main office in Alliance, OH

Some disciplined individuals may share the same name as other persons who have not been disciplined. It is critical that individuals using these disciplinary listings ensure that they have correctly identified the person or cattery. The Cat Fanciers' Association, Inc. is not responsible for any coincidence in names of disciplined persons or catteries and other non-disciplined persons or catteries as result of having the same or similar names. Only public discipline will be disclosed. Private reprimands and matters still under consideration by the Executive Board will remain private and confidential.

PERMANENT
Windy Lynn Johnston (Vansylvania), Noblesville IN – commencing June 23, 2004

What does this mean? Well, my first guess would be that she cannot sell kittens or cats with the CFA registry (I'm assuming the CFA is the equivalent of the AKC). 

But what else? Can she still show cats at CFA events? Can she still be a judge at CFA events? Apparently so because I have found several photos and articles and websites that say she is showing cats (and winning) as well as judging cat shows. 

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

THIS IS NOT AN APPROVED, CERTIFIED, OR RECOMMENDED LIST, but will be merely a listing of those who have judged Junior Fair shows in Ohio in 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011 and some other years prior to 2013.

In some cases, information is not complete. If there are questions, contact the county for details. Be sure to keep lists from prior years, as this is only judges from the last few years and not all counties submitted names.

 

 

Classes Judged: Cats and Showmanship
County: Brown County, Indiana
Years Judged: 2012 & 2014
Judge's Name: Windy Johnston
Judge's Address: 18200 US 31 N. Lot #56 Westfield, IN 45074
Contact Phone: 317-777-1692

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

In 2012, Windy Johnston is listed as the owner of two cats which placed at the American Cat Fanciers Association cat show. 

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

This photo, dated March 24, 2013, was taken at the Catfederacy Cat Club show in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

And this article from The Lebanon Reporter dated July 23, 2016 "Categorically successful kitties"

Judging cats in Boone County is always a challenge, according to Windy Johnston.

Johnston, the judge of the cat show at this year’s Boone County 4-H Fair, said that the reputation of Boone County’s cats is excellent. She knew she’d have a hard time choosing a winner even before she walked through the doors of the Witham Health Services Pavilion Friday morning.

“Boone County has a pretty great cat project,” Johnston said. “It’s well-known for being high quality. That definitely makes my job harder.”

In several of the breed categories, Johnston was forced between two animals so similar in quality that her judgment came down to the number of specks of dust in the ears or amount of fur shed on the judge’s table.

This year’s best of show champion cat, a Siamese Seal Point named Maggie, won because she was flawless, Johnston said.

“I could not fault anything about her,” Johnston said. “She had that little spark.”

The things that Johnston said she looks for first in a winning cat are cleanliness and well-trimmed nails. Johnston, who judges cat shows all over the Midwest and shows cats herself, said that about half the cats she sees are eliminated immediately due to dirty ears, fur or paws or untrimmed claws.

After those basics are covered, Johnston looks at the cat’s body. She stretches the animals out and looks for musculature and tone. If she’s down to two well-groomed cats, the fitter one is who she’ll choose, she said.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -