Hoarding - About 60 cats seized
South Toms River, NJ (US)

Incident Date: Thursday, Jul 21, 2011
County: Ocean

Disposition: Alleged

Alleged: Name Undisclosed

A Carnegie Street woman could face animal cruelty charges after Berkeley Township Animal Control pulled multiple felines from her home, authorities reported.

Michael Kern, an animal control officer, said about 60 cats were rescued by his agency from the house.

In addition to Animal Control, the South Toms River police, the Ocean County Health Department, and the New Jersey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals were involved in what was deemed a hoarding situation at the one story, single-family residence on the corner of Carnegie and Brook Forest Drive.

"The first day (July 21) we got out 30-plus cats, the second another 20-plus, and the third day the rest of them," said Matthew Stanton, a NJSPCA's spokesman.

The NJSPCA had not filed charges against the cats' owner, but the agency will do so, he said.

"We have to. She will be charged with failure to provide shelter, failure to provide sustenance and we will also seek 'no ownership of animals for life' charges typically filed in such a situation," Stanton said.

Stanton said he did not know in this instance what prompted the various agencies to get involved. But animal hoarders usually get outed during the summer months, when the temperature goes up and the smell gets out of the house, he said.

"The ammonia (caused by bacteria decomposing the urea in cat urine) is overwhelming. When the heat goes up, neighbors begin to wonder, 'What the hell is that smell?'," Stanton said.

The ammonia came "pouring out" of the Carnegie Street home when officials took the cats out of the residence, Stanton said. And even though people were wearing respirators, it took one man an hour and a half to start breathing normally, Stanton said.

Kern said all the cats were taken to the Ocean County animal shelter in the Manahawkin section of Stafford.

Brian Lippai, the shelter manager, said many of the cats had to be euthanized because of lack of space, keeping about a dozen. The owner was permitted to keep about five of the felines, he said.

"Getting the amount of cats that we did puts the shelter under incredible strain. We just do our best," Lippai said.

He explained the middle of the summer usually means both Ocean County shelters - another shelter is in Jackson - are at full capacity.

"Maybe if it was January or February we could have done a little better," Lippai said.

The animals have to be vaccinated, among other procedures, before they can be adopted, he added. Lippai estimated the cats would be ready for adoption by Aug. 3.

Berkeley Township's Animal Control office covers not only Berkeley, but Pine Beach, Ocean Gate, Seaside Park and South Toms River.

References

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