Cat mill - 54 cats seized - Virginia Beach, VA

Tuesday, May 3, 2005

County: Virginia Beach City

Disposition: Alleged
Case Images: 3 files available

Alleged: Carolyn Franck

Case Updates: 1 update(s) available

A cat breeder, Carolyn Franck, was charged with animal cruelty on May 4, a day after animal control officers removed 54 cats from her home in Brigadoon Woods.

Officers have visited the owner, Carolyn Franck, several times in recent years to monitor her cats, said animal control supervisor Steve Snyder. And went there again receiving a complaint from a person who had gone there to buy a cat , stated Snyder.

Police say the officer found dozens of what appeared to be unhealthy cats. After getting a search warrant, officers returned to remove 54 cats. Police said Franck did not resist the seizure.

Animal control has received complaints about the condition of Franck's cats over the past few years, Snyder said. During subsequent investigations, officers have offered Franck advice on how to keep her cats.

The 40 -50 cats that appeared to be healthy were allowed to remain in Franck's house.

The city places no restrictions on the number of cats a person can keep, as long as they are kept in healthy condition.

Franck was charged with animal cruelty and failure to provide valid rabies vaccinations. She is due in court May 9 to try to prove her fitness as an animal owner.

The confiscated cats were examined on May 4 by a veterinarian at the Virginia Beach SPCA and will be transferred to animal control afterward.

Case Updates

A judge ruled May 11, 2005, that a Virginia Beach woman who had over 90 cats removed from her home last week by Animal Control will not regain custody of the felines. Animal Control officers removed 54 cats from the home of Carolyn Franck on May 3rd after receiving complaints about the condition of the animals. Authorities said the animals were sick and living in inadequate conditions. On May 5th, the remaining 39 cats were removed after officials say the veterinarians who examined the first animals taken from the home found several contagious infections and illnesses. Authorities say this discovery prompted concern for the health of the remaining cats and therefore they were removed. Franck was charged with animal cruelty and failure to have valid rabies vaccinations for all of the cats. In a court hearing, the judge ruled the cats were not receiving adequate care in Franck's home. Because no criminal intent was found, Franck will not face any fines or jail time. However, she is responsible for the resulting vet and impoundment fees. Another hearing is scheduled on May 17 to determine those fees, which could total in excess of $15,000. The impounded cats will be put up for adoption. In Virginia Beach, there is no law limiting the number of cats a homeowner can keep - as long as the animals receive adequate care.

Source: WAVY - may 11, 2005 Update posted on May 11, 2005 - 2:48PM

References

• Pilot Online - May 5, 2005

« Back to Search Results
« VA State Animal Cruelty Map
« More cases in Virginia Beach City County, VA

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.