Hoarding almost 100 animals, 23 dead
Saddle River, NJ (US)Incident Date: Wednesday, Aug 15, 2007
County: Bergen
Charges: Misdemeanor
Disposition: Alleged
Case Images: 1 files available
Alleged:
» Cynthia Stewart
» Philip Tamis
Case Updates: 1 update(s) available
Nearly 100 cats and dogs -- 23 of which were found dead -- were discovered living in feces and filth inside a multi-million dollar Bergen County mansion. Police say that number could rise even higher as authorities continued to pull the mistreated animals from the massive property on August 15, 2007.
For weeks and possibly even months, Saddle River residents suspected something was wrong at 25 Burning Hollow Road, where the animals were found living in squalid conditions. "My dog Jake would get out once in a while, and I always found him over there by that house," says Connie Lasala, who lives near the house. The bodies of the dead animals were found wrapped inside plastic bags and placed in shoe boxes stacked in the house's 3-car garage, and ASPCA officials estimate they may have been there for up to a year.
Officials say 70 live cats and dogs were found roaming freely inside the house among piles of feces and pet food measured up to a foot deep in some areas. Animal Control officials took the animals in for examination and will likely place them up for adoption in the near future.
Officials were still sweeping through the house, finding even more pets hidden throughout the property. One official tells CBS 2 she came upon a cat hiding under the stove. Authorities were brought to the scene after a deliveryman smelled a foul odor emanating from the house and noticed piles of feces after peering through the window.
The owners of the home, 49-year old Cynthia Stewart and 66-year-old Philip Tamis, declined to comment and have hired an attorney. They were charged with 10 counts of animal cruelty, and could face many more. But investigators say it does not appear there was any criminal intent.
"Typically an individual who collects large amounts of animals, in their hearts and minds they think they're being good to them. But at the same time, they're being very cruel by omission," says Antonio Gines of the Bergen Co. ASPCA.
Officials say they were forced to open up the doors and windows to air out the house. The smell was so foul, they also needed to bring in respirators so they could investigate while breathing fresh air.
The owners may have suffered from a disorder known as "animal hoarding," where people who are actually considered pet lovers take in large amounts of pets that need care, but don't have the resources to provide them with a proper and habitable living environment. Animal hoarders typically think they're helping the animals out, but in the end are actually doing far more harm than good.
"These people are animal lovers, and to be honest I think they just tried to care for too many animals, and it became overwhelming," says Bergen Co. ASPCA chief James Lagrosa. "It just got out of control."
Case UpdatesThe couple accused of keeping more than 100 animals in their Saddle River mansion was in court on Sept 25, asking to get some of those animals back.
Animal rescuers pulled more than 150 animals, both dead and alive, from the Tamis' mansion last month. The floors of their foreclosed multimillion-dollar mansion were covered in feces and ruined by urine.
The couple was in court hoping to get six animals returned to them. Their attorney said the Tamises fear those six animals would be euthanized.
The judge ordered the six animals be kept alive at the temporary shelter where the rescued animals are being cared for. However, he rejected the bid to get any of them back. The judge said the couple is not permitted to own, buy, adopt or control any animals until further notice.
The couple's attorney says his clients have a new home with a yard and would not be overwhelmed by the six animals. He claims Cynthia Tamis fell victim to depression and a compulsive need to hoard animals. He said this is when Mrs. Tamis became overwhelmed by the animals and couldn't care for them.
Cythia Tamis and her husband, Philip, each face 20 counts of animal cruelty, but more counts could be added. | Source: News 12 New Jersey - Sept 25, 2007
Update posted on Nov 13, 2007 - 2:50AM |
References« NJ State Animal Cruelty Map
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