Hoarding 61 cats Columbia, SC (US) Incident Date: Thursday, Apr 17, 2003 County: Richland Local Map: available Disposition: Alleged Alleged: Tracy Sexton

Case ID: 1259 Classification: Hoarding Animal: cat View more cases in SC (US) Login to Watch this Case

Tracy Sexton, 47, of 2321 Park St., was charged on April 17 with 61 counts of animal cruelty after animal control officers took more than 60 cats from her home. She is to appear 8 a.m. Monday in Columbia city court.

If convicted, Sexton faces a maximum 60-day jail term and $500 fine on each count, said Steve Stephenson, Columbia Humane Society investigator.

Officers took three cats from a veterinarian's office where Sexton had taken them, Stephenson said. Sexton is accused of being unable to care for all of her cats, Persians and Himalayans, long-haired cats which she had been breeding and selling. Fur on many of the cats was severely matted, and several cats had ear mites, officials said.

Two kittens were immediately euthanized because they were struggling to breathe, Stephenson said.

Sexton denied the charges and plans to fight them, she said. She said her cats were healthy before officers arrived Tuesday. Sexton blamed them for having to euthanize the two kittens.

"This has been a big tragedy for me," she said. "I have had many of these animals for many, many years."

Sexton started breeding cats as a hobby after she bought her first Persian in 1999 at a cat show, she said. Breeding became Sexton's profession late last year after she became disabled.

Sexton, who lives alone, said her 2,700-square-foot home is large enough to keep several cats.

"This has become so blown out of proportion," she said. "There is no way I abused any animal."

It took three hours for officers to round up Sexton's cats, Stephenson said. Officers found feces in the kitchen and on furniture, he said.

Sexton said she and her cats weren't bothering anyone. She said officers might have found feces in some corners because some of her kittens hadn't yet been litter-trained. She denied accusations that her home was unclean.

"I had a house full of happy cats," Sexton said. "There's no (limit) on the number of cats you can have. All of them were treated as pets."

Animal control will hold Sexton's cats until her case is heard in court.

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