Case Details
Share:

Case Snapshot
Case ID: 18637
Classification: Hoarding
Animal: cat
More cases in AU
« Back to Search Results
Login to Watch this Case




38 dead cats found in freezer, over 50 cats rescued
Auckland, AU (NZ)

Incident Date: Wednesday, Dec 1, 2010

Disposition: Alleged

Alleged:
» Donald Cruickshank
» Tatyana Kondratyeva

The cat is out of the bag for Donald Cruickshank, who kept dozens of dead felines in his freezer for three years.

The Auckland man faces two animal cruelty-related charges after living in squalor surrounded by more than 50 cats locked inside his suburban home.

Auckland SPCA charged Cruickshank, aged 77, and his friend Tatyana Kondratyeva, aged 48, with failing to care for the animals and not ensuring 22 of them received medical attention. They have both pleaded not guilty in the North Shore District Court.

The SPCA alleged police officers noticed several unhealthy cats living in filthy conditions at Cruickshank's Glenfield home while attending an incident in December last year.

It claimed SPCA inspectors were almost suffocated by a strong smell of ammonia, food and faeces from 19 cats which were running freely around the lounge and bedroom. Another 17 were locked in cages with litter trays "overflowing" and another 23 were discovered in a fly-infested unit downstairs.

In a disturbing discovery, police found 38 dead cats wrapped in blood-stained newspaper and fabric bags next to food inside two fridges and freezers.

When SPCA inspectors returned to remove the dead cats, Cruickshank allegedly told them he kept the dead cats so their spirits would be with him forever.

SPCA seized all surviving cats and claimed to have treated 22 animals which were ill with several infections including gingivitis, flea allergies and ring worm.

Cruickshank told the Herald on Sunday the charges were outrageous because he was a cat lover.

"I've been involved with saving cats virtually all my life ... I've spent millions of dollars on cats," Cruickshank said.

He said the cats in his freezer had been there for at least three years because he didn't have time to bury them in coffins.

"Twenty-five years ago when they subdivided Green Valley we were feeding wild cats that came here ... they either had to be carted away or whatever so we provided accommodation for them and the last one died about three years ago ...

"It's not that unusual for people to do this I might add. I haven't got some kinky idea of doing things like that," Cruickshank said.

He claimed he didn't own the 50 cats but allowed friend Kondratyeva to keep her animals at his property after she was forced to move out of her home.

Kondratyeva said she had been rescuing colony cats for about 10 years and always took them to the vets for medical treatment.

She claimed the house maintenance had lapsed after Cruickshank banned her from his property when their relationship turned sour.

"I tried to come back and care for cats. They are my responsibility but I wasn't allowed, he'd say no, not now just leave it ... it [the house] was clean when I left," she said.

The pair were scheduled to appear again on February 23 for defended hearings.

References

  • « Back to Search Results

    Note: Classifications and other fields should not be used to determine what specific charges the suspect is facing or was convicted of - they are for research and statistical purposes only. The case report and subsequent updates outline the specific charges. Charges referenced in the original case report may be modified throughout the course of the investigation or trial, so case updates, when available, should always be considered the most accurate reflection of charges.

    For more information regarding classifications and usage of this database, please visit the database notes and disclaimer.



    Send this page to a friend
© Copyright 2001-2011 Pet-Abuse.Com. All rights reserved. Site Map ¤ Disclaimer ¤ Privacy Policy