Hoarding 58 cats, 70 rabbits Lee, MI (US) Incident Date: Tuesday, Feb 27, 2007 County: Calhoun Local Map: available Disposition: Alleged Abuser names unreleased

Case ID: 10923 Classification: Hoarding Animal: cat, dog (non pit-bull), rabbit (pet), goat View more cases in MI (US) Login to Watch this Case

Animal cruelty charges are possible for a Calhoun County couple after 55 cats were taken Feb 28 from a house in Lee Township.

Seven dead cats were found in the house and on the property in the 18000 block of 211/2-Mile Road, Capt. Matt Saxton of the Calhoun County Sheriff Department said March 1 afternoon.

"The living conditions were poor for the cats and for the humans," Saxton said. "It is some of the worst stuff I have seen in the last 13 years I have been here."

He said the house reeked of cat urine and feces and the snow outside the house was black with fleas.

All the cats were destroyed after they were taken from the property. Nearly all were infected with different viruses, were underfed and some were semi-feral, according to Saxton and Dr. Jeff LaHuis, who accompanied deputies and the county animal control officer. Most of the cats were living in the house.

"They had to be destroyed because of multiple factors," LaHuis said Thursday.

He said 30 percent of the cats had calici virus and others had herpes, and those not showing signs of disease probably were infected.

Saxton said the retired couple, whose names were not released because charges are being sought, also had 70 rabbits, three goats, three dogs and four cats that were left on the property because they were healthy.

The rabbits were kept in out buildings and camper trailers on the couple's 20 acres.

"They were all in good condition and didn't appear to be sick," Saxton said about the rabbits.

Saxton said officers had not been to the property before, but were contacted on Feb 27 after a repair-man went to the house to fix the furnace and notified authorities about the conditions.

"Part of the reason the furnace was not working was because of the all the cat hair," Saxton said. Officers obtained a search warrant to determine the condition of the couple living in the house and the animals on the property and went there Wednesday morning.

The couple released the cats to officers, Saxton said. A dog was killed at the home because it couldn't move.

LaHuis said the couple raises the rabbits and apparently inherited the cats.

"People were dropping them off but then he wasn't getting them spayed or neutered. He had good intentions but got overwhelmed," LaHuis said of one of the owners.

Saxton said the county health department has been notified about conditions of the home.

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References

Battle Creek Enquirer - March 7, 2007

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