Pet-Abuse.Com - Animal Abuse Case Details: Hoarding - 74 cats seized from RV

Hoarding - 74 cats seized from RV
Loveland, CO (US)

Incident Date: Friday, Sep 2, 2005
County: Larimer
Local Map: available
Disposition: Alleged

Alleged: Alexis Binns

Case Updates: 2 update(s) available

Case ID: 5516

Classification: Hoarding

Animal: cat

View more cases in CO (US)

A recreational vehicle filled with 74 cats has resulted in cruelty to animals charges against the RV owner. Larimer County Sheriff's deputies discovered the animals during a welfare check in the Riverbend Campground in Loveland on the evening of Sept 2. The deputies noticed a foul odor coming from the vehicle and obtained permission from the owner to search it.

They found the cats and kittens inside and called the Larimer County Humane Society.

Examination of all the felines determined that most of them have ringworm and upper respiratory infections.

Deputies booked Alexis Binns, 38, with 74 misdemeanor counts of cruelty to animals. She was also charged with felony aggravated motor vehicle theft after deputies said they found a stolen Fort Collins Police Services vehicle in the yard.

The cats and kittens are being cared for by the humane society, which is accepting donations for their care.

The Larimer Humane Society is presently caring for all cats and kittens and has stated it would advise the public if and when the animals are offered for adoption. If citizens are interested in assisting at this time, monetary donations are welcome at the Humane Society.

Case Updates

Almost 50 cats were seized by the Golden Police Department on the night of Oct 20 from a recreation vehicle as the alleged owner was getting them vaccinated at a local pet store. The owner had been arrested last month in Larimer County when 74 cats were found in her RV.

In the latest incident, employees of Petco called police after realizing how many cats the woman had and what condition they were in.

Golden police officers who responded to the store said they could smell animal feces in the RV from a distance of 50 feet. The owner would not allow officers inside and a search warrant was obtained so that they could enter the vehicle.

The seized animals were taken to the Table Mountain Animal Center.

"It�s obvious these cats are inbred, unsocial and suffering from various medical conditions," said Ben Drotar, a spokesman at the center. "Table Mountain Animal Center was already bursting at the seams with cats."

The center is required to hold the cats until the owner makes an appearance in court. She was identified as Alexis Binns.

Police said that Binns was charged with 45 counts of animal cruelty -- one for each cat.

In the earlier case, a recreational vehicle filled with 74 cats was discoverd by Larimer County Sheriff's deputies a welfare check in the Riverbend Campground in Loveland, Colo., on Sept 2. The deputies noticed a foul odor coming from the vehicle and obtained permission from the owner to search it.

After finding the cats and kittens inside, they charged Binns with animal cruelty.

The status of that case was not known Friday.

Meanwhile, the Table Mountain Animal Shelter is trying to deal with the additional cats.

People that are not able to adopt a cat can help financially. Table Mountain Animal Center said it is unexpectedly incurring substantial medical costs. Donations to help can be sent directly to Table Mountain Animal Center or over the Internet at www.tablemountainanimals.org and follow the "Help TMAC" link.

Source: The Denver Channel - Oct 21, 2005
Update posted on Oct 21, 2005 - 3:24PM

Back to Top

Alexis Binns, 38, whose 74 cats are being cared for by the Larimer Humane Society will have to pay $2,000 by Sept. 23 to maintain her ownership.

Binns, who lived in Riverview RV Park and Campground on West U.S. Highway 34, faces a Class 1 misdemeanor charge of cruelty to animals. The charge carries a maximum punishment of two years in jail and up to $5,000 in fines.

The Larimer County Sheriff's Office says Binns was living in her mobile home with 74 cats, most of which had ringworm and upper respiratory disease.

Larimer County sheriff's deputies found the cats Sept. 1, and the Humane Society has cared for them ever since.

Binns had to pay $10 per cat per day, every 30 days � $22,200 total � as a bond fee for the Humane Society to care for the animals during her court proceedings. She had until Monday to pay or relinquish ownership.

On Wednesday, Judge Peter Schoon changed that amount. The $900 she originally posted Sept. 12 will go to the Humane Society, he said. Then she will have to pay $1,000 as bond each week until Sept. 23 while the two lawyers work out her case.

He also said the two sides may make arrangements to release some of the animals to Binns or her family members to alleviate some of the financial burden on the Humane Society.

"The main thing is to keep the cats alive," Binns' lawyer, Stefani Goldin, said after the hearing. "Hopefully, we'll come up with a solution soon."

Source: Longmont FYI - Sept 16, 2005
Update posted on Sep 19, 2005 - 10:41AM

Back to Top

Neighborhood Map

For more information about the Interactive Animal Cruelty Maps, see the map notes.

Add this case to:

Del.icio.us

Digg

Furl

References

The Denver Channel - Sept 6, 2005

« CO State Animal Cruelty Map

Not sure what these icons mean? Click here.

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.

Site Map ¤ Disclaimer ¤ Privacy Policy

Hoarding - 74 cats seized from RVLoveland, CO (US)

Case Updates

Neighborhood Map

References

Hoarding - 74 cats seized from RV
Loveland, CO (US)