Hoarding - dozens of animals seized
Fort Ann, NY (US)

Incident Date: Monday, Aug 25, 2008
County: Washington

Disposition: Alleged

Alleged: Sara McFarren

A 94 year-old Washington County woman is facing animal cruelty charges.

Authorities seized dozens of animals Monday from Sara McFarren's house on Route 4 in the town of Fort Ann. Many of the 25 cats, 17 birds, six dogs, five rabbits, four guinea pigs, and assorted chickens, ducks, and peacocks were living in a "sea of excrement," the SPCA said.

"If you were to walk into that place today, you would have to turn around and walk back out again because your lungs would be burning, your eyes would be burning," said Cathy Cloutier, Executive Director of the SPCA of Upstate New York.

One cat was dead, while many others had bald spots and open wounds where they had been chewing at fleas, Cloutier said. Some of the caged birds had plucked the feathers from their neck, living in a cage full of maggots.

A number of the animals were badly malnourished, she said.

Despite the physical condition of the animals -- and despite photographs depicting the filth inside her small rural home -- McFarren told CBS 6 her pets were well cared-for.

"They were fed good," she said. "I kept my floors clean. I kept the stuff cleaned-up."

Though McFarren is facing the animal cruelty charges, the SPCA's Cloutier said McFarren's friends are just as much to blame. They never notified the authorities.

"People have helped her for so many years," she said. "Why the hell didn't they say something?"

One of those friends, speaking through McFarren's screen door, said she remained silent because there was nothing to report. "She always took care of them good," the unidentified woman said.

The indoor pets are now being evaluated by a local veterinarian. It remains to be seen whether any of them will have to be euthanized. A local farmer has volunteered to take in the chickens, ducks, and peacocks.

Washington County has condemned McFarren's house, though she is still living there for the moment. She is due in court on September 10, two days before her 95th birthday.

It will not be a happy occasion.

"They've got me all disturbed up," she said.

References

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