Pets abandoned in foreclosed house
Hamilton Township, PA (US)Incident Date: Friday, Aug 5, 2011
County: Franklin
Charges: Summary
Disposition: Civil penalty imposed
Alleged: Tambara Lewis
A woman now living in Waynesboro faces animal cruelty charges for allegedly abandoning a Hamilton Township house full of cats after it went into foreclosure.
Tower Bank contacted Franklin County Humane Police Officer Floyd "Buck" Hessler Friday morning after an employee went into the house at 1062 Marvin Drive East to find 17 cats and a rabbit without food. He said someone opened a window before he got there and some cats apparently escaped through a torn screen.
Hessler removed 10 flea-infested cats from the house, including a mother and several kittens. Their health was still being evaluated at Cumberland Valley Animal Shelter when he spoke with Public Opinion.
He intends to set up humane traps in the surrounding area in hopes of capturing the others that had been in the house.
Hessler wore tall rubber boots and a breathing mask while going through the house in search of cats, living and dead. He described the conditions inside as "horrible" and said there were no bags of cat food to be found. There was a bag of rabbit food, but not within the animal's reach.
The animals had been provided with water when he arrived, but Hessler was not sure if a bank employee had placed it there.
By speaking with a representative of the bank and neighbors, Hessler learned that the former resident, Tambara Lewis, moved out "at least a week ago, but possibly longer." He said she moved to Waynesboro and her estranged husband is believed to be in Georgia.
He plans to charge Lewis with abandonment of the animals, forcing them to live in unsanitary conditions, failure to provide food and failure to provide veterinary care.
The summary citations will likely be filed sometime next week. References |
