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113 Kittens Found Dead in California Apartment
the daily dish
Authorities made a heartbreaking discovery in Monterey County, Calif. this week. According to the Associated Press, police officials found 113 dead kittens during an apartment search.
Officers decided to investigate the residence after the building's property manager told them he had found dead animals in the apartment during an inspection. Most of the kittens were under two months of age. Due to the severity of the situation, police are treating the case as animal hoarding.
Staff from the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals for Monterey County came to the apartment with the police to assist in any animal care. The grim discovery was still a shock to the workers experienced with hoarders. SPCA spokeswoman Beth Brookhouser told AP, "I hate to see any of these hoarding cases. They are all tragic in their own ways, but for me personally, this is the first time with so many deceased cats."
Authorities and the local SPCA were also told that older cats who used to live in the apartment were probably moved to a nearby house. This location was soon discovered and investigated. Over 50 adult and ailing cats were found crammed into the small space.
RELATED: Most Amazing Animal Rescues
Officials said that most of the cats were sick, and that all of the felines were found in two unventilated rooms, covered in filth. It took six hours for all of the cats to be safely removed from the home.
From there, the SPCA of the county quickly went to work treating the animals. Luckily, almost all the felines were in stable conditions. Two of the animals had to undergo emergency surgery, and five others were pregnant. Most of the cats were suffering from broken teeth, respiratory illness and parasites.
The homeowner, who remains unnamed, is currently under investigation. Police believe that the owner may have taken many of the cats off the streets, and they are contacting the owners of missing cats to see if they can make matches.
RELATED: 10 Most Dangerous Creatures to Your Pets
The SCPA has alerted the Monterey County district attorney's office about the situation so they can consider pressing charges. SPCA Sergeant Stacy Sanders, who helped search the apartment and house, told AP, "It definitely makes you go home and kind of hug your animals a little tighter at night."
50 Adorable Kittens You Can Adopt:
Officers decided to investigate the residence after the building's property manager told them he had found dead animals in the apartment during an inspection. Most of the kittens were under two months of age. Due to the severity of the situation, police are treating the case as animal hoarding.
Staff from the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals for Monterey County came to the apartment with the police to assist in any animal care. The grim discovery was still a shock to the workers experienced with hoarders. SPCA spokeswoman Beth Brookhouser told AP, "I hate to see any of these hoarding cases. They are all tragic in their own ways, but for me personally, this is the first time with so many deceased cats."
Authorities and the local SPCA were also told that older cats who used to live in the apartment were probably moved to a nearby house. This location was soon discovered and investigated. Over 50 adult and ailing cats were found crammed into the small space.
RELATED: Most Amazing Animal Rescues
Officials said that most of the cats were sick, and that all of the felines were found in two unventilated rooms, covered in filth. It took six hours for all of the cats to be safely removed from the home.
From there, the SPCA of the county quickly went to work treating the animals. Luckily, almost all the felines were in stable conditions. Two of the animals had to undergo emergency surgery, and five others were pregnant. Most of the cats were suffering from broken teeth, respiratory illness and parasites.
The homeowner, who remains unnamed, is currently under investigation. Police believe that the owner may have taken many of the cats off the streets, and they are contacting the owners of missing cats to see if they can make matches.
RELATED: 10 Most Dangerous Creatures to Your Pets
The SCPA has alerted the Monterey County district attorney's office about the situation so they can consider pressing charges. SPCA Sergeant Stacy Sanders, who helped search the apartment and house, told AP, "It definitely makes you go home and kind of hug your animals a little tighter at night."
50 Adorable Kittens You Can Adopt:
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24 Comments
don't get why people do this with animals. i'm no stranger to hoarders since my mother is a hoarder of junk and garbage, but to hoard living breathing things and not to care that they are sick and dying seems to be almost a different illness. these don't even appear to be animal lovers feeling sorry for a stray cat since these cats aren't even being cared for. if they are animal//cat lovers how can someone not feel anything seeing a cat is sick that they took in from street and were supposed to care for and give them a good life... there life is worse now than it was as a stray cat.
August 02 2012 at 12:24 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Replywhat was that stuff all over the walls? and if this was an apartment.. why didn't anyone hear the cats? thats A LOT of cats... not to mention the smell
July 27 2012 at 12:15 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyBeing a social worker with a degree in psychology, I have experienced hording and it is a mental illness. Its a combination of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and Depression / Bi-Polar Disorder. This person needs treatment and no doubt will suffer charges and what comes to follow. But that will never happen until the court orders it or they admit to needing treatment, much like a drug addict. The truth is this, many of the court ordered treatment classes are group and fall very short. During the time of treatment, the group will experience several changes in the group leader, group leaders having negative feelings about their job placements and only interested in finding something better to do for a living, and a very disorganized group. Its difficult to treat unless the person having treatment is doing such because they believe they need the help and its not forced on them.
July 26 2012 at 11:45 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyI have 2 young adult female cats, and we have 9 3 month old kittens we are currently trying to find homes for. Im sure this person thought they were trying to help and it is scary to think of those who try to scam themselves off as a "happy family home" that are looking for snake food or for animals for scientific testing. I've heard they even bring their kids and promise a good home. I wish I would have had my cats fixed, but they were still so young and in heat for months (for the first time). It cost twice as much to have it done while in heat, with risks. My ex and I were sharing residence for a very short time to help each other and out and our kids. His girlfriend kept letting them out the door while she was coming in (I think on purpose) giggling "oops, hee they got out again." Grrrr.
We never had a problem with them getting out until her, and they were still so young. Both had kittens with in 7 days of each other, and they both helped each other during their birthing. They helped chew the cords when the birthing mother was too exhausted to do it on her own, any longer. They both fed and mothered each others babies as if their own. I wonder if they even know their own babies from the others. It is easy to judge others until you find yourself in a situation you had not thought would be. I pray for those little souls left behind and trying to find a home, and I pray for the best homes for all of them and my sweet little souls I am trying to place in a good home. I also pray that that poor hoarder finds some peace and the help s/he needs! Amen!
Don't Like it !!!!! Too much JUNK---- All I want is my old page back! I'm very disappointed......
July 26 2012 at 11:43 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyI did not see that they arrested anyone in the story. Too bad. Here they don't wait on hoarding case whether the person is mentally ill or not they go to jail and then it is up to the judge to order a mental evaluation.
July 26 2012 at 11:24 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyThere's nothing wrong with keeping a large number of animals provided you have the space and means to care for them. Its when you have no space and no money that having animals becomes a problem. Sadly that's what happened here. If I had the space and money I would love to adopt any of the unwanted cats.
July 26 2012 at 11:22 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyHoarding animals is abuse and should be illegal! I seen plenty hoarders first hand and I all for making it illegal!
July 26 2012 at 9:56 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyAt what point is it hoarding then? If you're a single person, I'd say more than 2 cats could actually be considered hoarding. Or do you get to crazy cat lady status at 10 or 15? I see nothing wrong with hoarding 100 cats, but only if they can be maintained which they obviously were not.
July 27 2012 at 12:43 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyI HAVE 14 RIGHT NOW BECAUSE I RESCUE THEM IN MY TRAVELS IF I COME ACROSS THE DOMESTICATED ONES . THEY HAVE PLENTY OF SPACE AND FOOD AND LOTS OF LOVE AND I SPEND HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS A MONTHS FEEDING THEM BECAUSE I LOVE THEM I HAVE 7 LITTER BOX HOUSES THAT I CHANGE EVERYDAY AND I HAVE ALMOST 75 CATNIP'S AND BALLS AND 20 BEDS THAT THEY LOVE I KEEP PLENTY OF SHAMPOO AND FRONTLINE THE SPRAY AND THE PACKS AND WHEN I AM IN WALMART FOR THERE LITTER I BUY NO LESS THEN THIRTY 25 POUND BAGS I BUY THE CARD BOARD SCRATCHING POST'S BECAUSE ITS MORE SANITARY AND THEY LOVE IT BUT IF THEY ARE WOUNDED OR PREGNANT I TAKE THEM TO NY ANIMAL CONTROL IMMEDIATELY BUT IF THEY BEHAVE I LET THEM STAY FOR A GOOD MONTH OR TWO SO THEY CAN BE USED TO KINDNESS SO I ACTUALLY OWN 9 BUT I RESCUE WHO NEEDS HELP BUT TO KEEP THEM CRAMPED IS CRUEL AND VERY STRANGE AND I AM A VERY WELL DRESSED VERY HAPPY ATTRACTIVE FANCY DIVORCED SINGLE BLACK YOUNG WOMAN WITH NO KIDS BY CHOICE WHO LOVES CATS AND PEOPLE BUT SEE I CANT TAKE A STRANGER OFF THE STREET.
August 02 2012 at 3:41 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate downtoo cute i see eye white spots........
July 26 2012 at 7:02 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Replyshould have set the place on fire...
July 26 2012 at 7:01 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyYou should have been in it too. idiot!
July 27 2012 at 12:44 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Replyeveryone keeps saying s/he should go to prison but hoarding is a mental illness
July 26 2012 at 6:56 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply