Severe neglect - dozens of cats seized, some dead
Lloyd, KY (US)Incident Date: Thursday, Mar 31, 2005
County: Greenup
Disposition: Alleged
Abuser names unreleased
Dozens of dead and diseased, starving cats were seized from a home on Retreat Road in rural Greenup County. Now, sheriff's deputies and humane society officials are searching for the people they say are responsible for the alleged abuse.
The county humane society and the Greenup County Sheriff's Department broke down the door of a trailer to find cats - both living and dead - in several inches of feces and urine. To the rear of the residence, near Bennett's Mill Bridge, were five other small buildings with garbage bags full of dead cats and cages filled with visibly diseased and starving cats.
Elane Elder, humane society secretary-treasurer, said neighbors tipped them off about the possibility of animal abuse at the residence. But, she said, the situation was much worse than she and other volunteers anticipated.
"This is the worst case I've seen," she said. "It is just terrible."
Despite wearing gloves and surgical masks, many of the humane society volunteers were overcome by the stench and frequently had to walk away from the scene to catch their breath. Some were overcome with emotion from seeing the piles of dead animals.
"It's just so bad that you can't breathe," said Val Ford, president of the humane society. "It is terrible that anyone would do this."
The cats that were found dead ranged in breed from calico to Himalayan.
"These were just beautiful cats. There really is no excuse for this," Elder said.
Elder, who also serves as a sergeant with the Raceland Police Department, said numerous misdemeanor animal cruelty and neglect charges will be filed with the sheriff's department in the upcoming days against Laverne and Edward Hurn, the homeowners who reportedly moved from the residence a few weeks ago.
The cats found alive were taken from the residence and will be thoroughly examined at a local veterinarian's office and then put up for adoption at the humane society. For more information about adopting one of the cats, call (606) 836-7529. References- The Independent - April 1, 2005
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