Hoarding - three cats seized
Fayetteville, NC (US)Incident Date: Friday, Sep 7, 2007
County: Cumberland
Charges: Felony CTA
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged: Barbara Yvonne Mauer
A woman who was once banned from feeding stray cats in public parks has been charged with animal cruelty.
Cumberland County Animal Control officers seized three cats from Barbara Yvonne Mauer's home on the 5400 block of Sandstone Drive on Sept. 7, according to warrants and Animal Control officials.
Mauer was charged Monday with three counts of felony cruelty to animals. Bail was set at $1,500.
"We received an anonymous call about cats roaming all over the house and odor coming from the house," said Sue Nicholson, director of Animal Control.
Animal Control officers wore respirators in the home due to high ammonia levels, warrants say. Officers said they found numerous cats and trash.
"The floors, counters and kitchen sink were covered with feces," the warrant says.
Fayetteville city inspectors declared the home dangerous and unfit for habitation.
Nicholson said the three cats that were seized are being kept at the shelter pending a court outcome.
Mauer, a former teacher, made headlines in 1996 when she was banned from city parks for feeding stray cats at Mazarick Park. City and county officials said she was littering and attracting animals that could be rabid. Mauer argued that she kept animals from roaming the neighborhood looking for food and that the county did not do enough to curb rabies.
Nicholson said there were more cats at Mauer's home, but officers were only able to catch three.
"We are still investigating the situation," Nicholson said. References |
