Firefighters discovered over 50 cats
Cicero, IL (US)

Incident Date: Monday, Jun 20, 2011
County: Cook

Disposition: Alleged

Alleged: woman

An elderly woman was removed from her home in the 1800 block of 57th Avenue after the Cicero Fire Department found more than 50 cats on the property.

About a dozen dead cats also were found in the backyard, according to a statement from Cicero town spokesman Ray Hanania.

Erika Rosas, Cicero's director of animal welfare, said about 40 cats were taken from the house alive. Those cats will be taken to Waggin' Tails animal shelter at 1643 S. Laramie Ave., but they will have to undergo treatment and receive vaccinations before they can be adopted.

Waggin' Tails also will be working with other area animal shelters to help with cats that overwhelm their capacity, Rosas said.

The town is now working to relocate the resident into temporary shelter or housing with family members until the home can be brought back up to livable conditions.

Cicero Deputy Fire Marshall Ron Opalecky said the department would clean the property and attempt to recover costs from any insurance that might be available.

Mark Kulaga, an employee for Cicero's Water Department, said he discovered the situation about 10:30 a.m. today when he came to the house to shut off the resident's water for a delinquent bill.

The smell was so bad, he feared the occupant may have died on the property.

"I've smelled rotting flesh once before," Kulaga said. "I knew something was dead in there, but I didn't know what."

Moses Robles, who lives across the alley, said conditions were so bad, he would not let his kids play in the alley.

"We tried to help her, but she wouldn't do anything," Robles said. "At night, it was so bad that you could smell it for a block in all four directions."

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