Pet-Abuse.Com - Animal Abuse Case Details: Hoarding as many as 300 cats, some dead

Hoarding as many as 300 cats, some dead
Dunnellon, FL (US)

Incident Date: Friday, Apr 13, 2007
County: Marion
Local Map: available
Disposition: Alleged

Alleged: Jonathan Terpstra

Case Updates: 2 update(s) available

Case ID: 11238

Classification: Hoarding

Animal: cat

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A Central Florida man was arrested on animal cruelty charges after officials said they discovered as many as 300 cats -- dead and alive -- inside his house with a layer of animal feces between two and three inches deep, according to a news report.

The cats and some other animals were found by a sheriff's deputy at about 10:30 a.m. on April 13 while she was serving civil papers to the residence in connection with another matter.

She said she saw the remains of a cat in the yard of the house before finding hundreds of animals inside the home. The deputy requested a hazmat team due to strong fumes inside the house.

A hazmat team tested the air quality and the ammonia level was at 31 parts per million, according to the Marion County Sheriff's Office. The lethal level is 20 parts per million.

Animal control officers said the live animals will be kept as evidence or taken to an animal shelter.

Case Updates

An animal cruelty investigator made a visit five years ago to the home recently found to be covered with animal feces, but no violations were found.

Jonathan Terpstra, 61, was charged last week with 55 counts of animal cruelty, two counts of tampering with evidence and one count of resisting without violence. The floor of the home was covered with a layer of animal feces between 2 and 3 inches deep, authorities said. As many as 300 cats, both alive and dead, were also found at the home.

In March 2002, an air conditioning repairman called the county to ask for an investigation of the home. The repairman reported seeing 400 cats inside the home - some of them dead and others without hair on their backs - and feces all over the house. The repairman also reported about 75 dogs outside.

Lead Animal Cruelty Investigator Ron Henry went to the property. A 5-year-old report states that 30 dogs were seen on the property, and all the dogs appeared healthy and had food, water and shelter. The report did not mention any cats.

Henry told the Ocala Star-Banner on Monday that when he made the inspection five years ago, a locked gate kept him from getting onto the property.

"All the dogs that I could see from there all had dog houses and appeared healthy," Henry said.

Without signs of a violation or foul odors, Henry said he's not allowed to enter a home.

Terpstra was arrested Friday on the animal cruelty charges. He remained in the Marion County Jail on a $30,000 bond.

Source: Daily Comet - April 17, 2007
Update posted on Apr 17, 2007 - 4:19AM

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Animal control continues to round up cats belonging to a man charged with 55 counts of animal cruelty.

Authorities said 61-year old Jonathan Terpstra was living in a home with a layer of animal feces and dozens of cats, both alive and dead.

He was arrested Friday. Saturday he appeared in court. A judge appointed him a public defender and set bail at $30,000.

Meanwhile, animal control workers set traps yesterday and caught seven more cats, bringing the total to more than 70. They believe several others ran into some nearby woods.

Some that were caught will be put up for adoption, others may have to be euthanized.

Source: CF13 News - April 15, 2007
Update posted on Apr 15, 2007 - 4:34PM

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Florida Today - April 15, 2007

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Hoarding as many as 300 cats, some deadDunnellon, FL (US)

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Hoarding as many as 300 cats, some dead
Dunnellon, FL (US)