Erica Marie Erickson, the founder of Playa Animal Welfare Services (Playa Paws), has spent years rescuing and caring for countless cats in Puerto Rico, dedicating her life to transporting them to no-kill shelters and adopters on the U.S. mainland. However, her rescue efforts recently took a disturbing turn when a woman named Solymar Crespo, a nurse with no experience in cat care, seized 87 of Erica’s cats from her nonprofit rescue under questionable circumstances.
In a news interview aired on September 1, 2023, Solymar boldly claimed she took the cats because she believed Erica had “no care for them” and that she had to intervene. “I knew I had to take the cats from her because she didn’t care about the cats at all,” Solymar said in the broadcast. “Even though I work full time, have children, and take care of over 50 horses, I knew it had to be done.”
Photo courtesy of screen shots of Solymar’s Facebook Page
The situation became more troubling when it was revealed that Solymar had no legal right to take the cats. Under Puerto Rico law, animals seized during an investigation must be turned over to a municipal animal shelter or a legitimate rescue organization, neither of which Solymar was affiliated with. After taking the cats, she incorporated a new nonprofit rescue, focused solely on farm animals, just three weeks later—without any staff, facilities, or proper organization.
Despite Solymar’s claims that the cats were being housed at her horse farm, Erica’s lawyer soon discovered that the location provided for the cats’ new home was simply a vacant field. “I went there myself several times, and the cats were clearly not there,” Erica shared. “I hired a private investigator to find them, but he just stole my money and did nothing. Then she told the news that she had to move the cats to a ‘secret location’ because she was receiving threats. That, too, was a lie.”
Solymar’s plans for the cats raised serious concerns. In the same broadcast, she mentioned her plan to build a “huge cage” to house the cats together, an idea that was not only impractical but dangerously irresponsible, especially considering the varying health conditions of the cats—some had contagious diseases, while others were mothers with kittens, and many were unaltered males and females who had not yet been sterilized. “She bragged about getting them all sterilized, but that’s illegal,” Erica explained. “They were my property, and if they were truly as sick as Solymar claimed, how were they healthy enough for sterilization?”
The law in Puerto Rico requires that a seizure order must be filed within 90 days of taking property via a search warrant, but that step was never taken, leaving Solymar in illegal possession of the cats for over a year now. “They’ve been illegally possessing my cats and property for a full year,” Erica said, her frustration palpable. “They were taken illegally in the first place, and now they’ve disappeared.”
This violation of the law has left Erica with little recourse. Solymar’s actions, including her unsubstantiated claims about threats and her failure to return the cats, have left Erica in the dark for more than 15 months. Despite her relentless pursuit of justice, Erica has not seen any of the cats since they were seized. “The cats are not there, and nobody is helping me. I feel completely powerless,” she said.
Through this painful ordeal, Erica remains committed to her cause and to the animals in her care. “I am going to keep fighting until the truth comes out and the cats are returned,” Erica affirmed. Her story shines a light on the challenges faced by animal rescuers who often find themselves up against individuals exploiting legal loopholes and undermining the welfare of animals.
Erica’s passion for animal welfare remains unwavering, and she continues her fight for justice, not just for the cats she rescued but for the many animals who need protection and care in Puerto Rico.
