40 cats removed from mobile home Livingston Parish, LA (US)Incident Date: Sunday, Jan 31, 2010
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged: Harold Oglesby
A Livingston Parish man faces animal cruelty charges after investigators found dozens of cats in his trailer, and Humane Society investigators are calling the animal control problem in Eastover Estates severe.
"It's a very sad situation," said Randy Stegall of the Tangipahoa Humane Society, as he trekked through a yard filled with junk. Cats swarmed the area, and the Stegall said scent out there was unbearable.
"It's almost like a dead smell," Stegall said.
The outside of the trailer home in Eastover Estates where the cats were found had old tires, bikes, a microwave and a dingy refrigerator in the yard.
"You got layers of shaded paper that has been thrown on top of feces," said Stegall as he described the inside of the trailer.
Harold Oglesby, the owner of the trailer, reportedly had a total of 40 cats living with him inside the trailer.
"If you look out in the subdivision, this is not unique out here," said Maurice Durbin of the Denham Springs Animal Shelter.
Durbin says in Eastover you will find sick and emaciated dogs and cats roaming around. She said her shelter is swamped with animals from unincorporated areas being dumped into their laps.
Durbin said she believes it is critical that Livingston's Animal Control Center opens up full time.
"We can't let our animals run free," said Durbin. "And we have to have an animal control."
Stegall said he believes he's fighting an uphill battle at times. They've found a home for about two dozen of the cats who lived with Oglesby.
Stegall says they will attempt to catch the bulk of the felines, but he fears the remaining cats will continue to procreate and spread disease.
Stegall said he plans to meet with the Livingston Parish Council in the near future regarding the animal shelter.
Brandon Ellzey with Livingston Parish President Mike Grimmer's office says they are trying to find the funds to run the shelter full time. References |