Hoarding over 60 animals - Pittsburgh, PA

Friday, Oct 29, 2004

County: Allegheny

Disposition: Alleged

Alleged: Judith Sabol

Humane officers spent Oct 29 in Plum Borough removing more than 60 animals from a local home.

Most of the animals, which included cats, dogs and even a parrot, were in good shape but the home they were living in was not.

The home, occupied by Judith Sobul, was covered in feces on nearly every floor. Officers said the odor in the home was unbearable.

Neighbors say they weren't surprised at what officers found. One neighbor even said that she reported Sobul based on the odor a few times prior to the incident.

Humane officers admitted that they have been to the home twice before. "On my initial visits, Judith Sabol, who lives here and owns the animals, wouldn't let me inside the house voluntarily. The first time I had to wait 5 days before she voluntarily let me in the house. It was clean at the time," said one officer.

This time, police came with a search warrant and inside they found how the animals were truly living.

Because of the conditions the animals were living in, officers say they plan to charge Judith Sabol with not giving them access to sanitary conditions, which could cost her $50 to $750 per animal.

References

• The Pittsburgh Channel - Nov 5, 2004

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