41 cats seized from trailer
Bedford, VA (US)

Incident Date: Thursday, Jun 16, 2011
County: Bedford

Charges: Misdemeanor
Disposition: Convicted

Defendant/Suspect: Carolyn Creasy

Case Updates: 1 update(s) available

Police have charged 53-year-old Carolyn Andrews Creasy of Bedford with the following:

Two counts of animal cruelty or neglect
One count fail to vaccinate for rabies
One count own more than five animals within the City of Bedford

43 cats were taken from a mobile home in Bedford by police on Thursday. The owner now faces criminal charges.

Bedford Police tell WDBJ7 the woman cooperated with authorities and signed a release form allowing them to seize the animals.

Lt. Todd Foreman with the Bedford Police Department says the woman thought she was helping the stray animals by giving them a home. But it got out of control.

"She's just been very upset that nobody can take care of them as well as she can," says Lt. Foreman.

Officers spent hours removing the 43 kittens and cats from the mobile home on Woodside Court. One dog was also seized.

The investigation began with an anonymous phone call.

The owner admitted to police she found the cats in several places inside the city of Bedford
here.

"She said she's trapped them in different areas where they're feral," says Lt. Foreman, "Places like Food Lion where we have a problem with cats running, people drop them off, that kind of stuff and she's caught some of them there."

Neighbors were shocked by the number of cats inside the trailer.

"I didn't realize it was that many," says Teresa Bayne who lives next door, "I know she thought she was doing what was right. I like her. She's a good woman and all so she was trying to help take care of the cats."

The cats were each checked by a veterinarian. About four will need medical treatment.

It was a challenge for police to find shelters to take in these cats. The Bedford Humane Society and Angels of Assisi in Roanoke agreed to help out.

A building inspector condemned the mobile home because the cat urine has damaged the floor.

On Friday, police will meet with the commonwealth's attorney, review the veterinarian's notes and decide what charges to file against the owner.

The city of Bedford has an ordinance that prohibits residents from having more than four animals in a home. It allows for five animals if all five are spayed or neutered.

Two animal rescue groups-- have agreed to take all of the cats. Police say one kitten needs veterinary care, but the rest appear to be in good health.

Case Updates

References

• localwireless.com - Jun 17, 2011

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