Hoarding - 31 cats and dogs seized
Olympia, WA (US)

Incident Date: Wednesday, Sep 17, 2008
County: Thurston

Disposition: Not Charged

Abuser names unreleased

Animal Services officials seized 31 cats and dogs that were living in unhygienic conditions at a Decatur Street residence Wednesday afternoon, Animal Services director Susanne Beauregard said. � Animal Services officials seized 31 cats and dogs that were living in unhygienic conditions at a Decatur Street residence Wednesday afternoon, Animal Services director Susanne Beauregard said.

It was unclear Thursday whether the woman who lives at the home will face neglect or cruelty charges, Beauregard said. The woman has health problems that might prevent her from properly taking care of the pets, and the animals did not appear to be malnourished, Beauregard said.

The unhygienic conditions were mainly caused by the dogs and cats not being picked up after, she said. The floors of the home were covered with animal feces, and the stench of ammonia when police and animal services entered the home Wednesday was overpowering, Beauregard said.

"It was basically intolerable conditions," she said. "... It's bad housekeeping on steroids."

Olympia police conducted a welfare check of the home Wednesday after officials from a local elementary school reported to authorities that a student who lives at the home had hygiene and cleanliness issues, said Olympia Police Cmdr. Tor Bjornstad.

Bjornstad said the case is under investigation as a possible child-neglect case, but no action has been taken.

Beauregard said that in the next couple of weeks, the 18 or 19 dogs seized from the home and now at Animal Services should be put up for adoption. Some of the dogs that will be up for adoption are Pomeranian and Chihuahua mixes, she said.

References

• « WA State Animal Cruelty Map

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