Neglect of at least 16 cats, 2 dogs Boulder Creek, CA (US) Incident Date: Thursday, Sep 2, 2004 County: Santa Cruz Local Map: available Disposition: Alleged Alleged: John Staples

Case ID: 2696 Classification: Neglect / Abandonment, Shooting Animal: cat, dog (non pit-bull) View more cases in CA (US) Login to Watch this Case

Sheriff's deputies arresting a man on suspicion of shooting a neighbor�s dog discovered 16 emaciated and ill cats living with him in a one-room shack. John Staples is a caretaker at the Two Bar Road property where authorities also found three ill dogs, one of whom escaped, said detective Sgt. Mario Sulay of the county Sheriff�s Office.

When deputies arrived at the property about 2 miles from Highway 9 about 8:30 a.m., Staples hid for nearly 30 minutes in what Sulay described as a one-room locked shed with a sign reading "Hideout," where he apparently had been living.

Inside the one-window room, which was full of cat excrement, were several cats in poor health. Some of the cats appeared feral, Sulay said.

Animal control officials removed 16 cats, a standard poodle and a sheep dog. Still more cats are believed to be on the property.

"I think (Staples) definitely has some issues," said Sulay. "And I know the neighborhood has had their share of frustration dealing with cats and odors, let alone their own pets being shot."

Sulay said the 1,100-square-foot main home on the property was also filthy and was home to the three dogs. No animals were found in a third structure on the property, a smaller shed.
"Every building had a stench that was literally unbearable," Sulay said. "It was pretty indescribable."

Staples was arrested on suspicion of being a felon in possession of a gun, and animal cruelty. The cruelty charge is for the Rottweiler he allegedly shot on Aug. 11 and for the cats, Sulay said.

Detectives had been told by area residents that Staples had a .22 caliber rifle to shoot coyotes who might be after his cats. The gun was not found, but he was arrested on the charge after witnesses reported seeing him with it, Sulay said.

Staples told deputies he was trying to take care of the cats, but was overwhelmed, in part because of his work renovating the house, Sulay said.

Deputies called in investigators from the county�s planning and environmental health departments to investigate possible structural code violations and sanitation issues, Sulay said.

The Two Bar Road property owner, who was not named by authorities, was at work when deputies arrived Wednesday, Sulay said. He is not a suspect, but will be responsible for any health or property violations. Detectives believe he owned the dogs, however.

Holly, the 7-year-old dog shot in August, is recovering after being shot in the leg after she ran off during a walk toward Two Bar Creek.

Detectives interviewed several people who led them to Staples, Sulay said, and the dog�s owner had posted fliers around town to solicit information on the case.

Animal Services spokeswoman Tricia Geisreiter said the cats removed from the property will not be returned to Staples because he surrendered them and requested they be euthanized.

The cats were covered in fleas and mites and had upper respiratory infection, she said. Staples had previously brought cats into the shelter, and those cats had tested positive for feline panleukopenia, a serious, contagious disease that attacks a cat�s intestines and white blood cells.

"Because these cats were so sick, we couldn�t risk bringing them into the shelter, especially because we knew that he�d brought in cats with panleukopenia in the past," she said.

Animal Services put out humane cat traps at the site Wednesday in an effort to catch the other cats. Those caught will be held at the animal shelter for the stray hold period of four days.

One of the dogs is at the animal shelter, the other at Santa Cruz Veterinary Hospital.

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References

Santa Cruz Sentinel - Sept 2, 2004

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