A Punta Gorda woman who had twenty-eight animals removed from her FEMA City trailer could be evicted from the park. Agents weren't keeping track of the number of animals inside the trailer because of Hurricane Wilma.
There were two hamsters, three dogs and twenty three cats. The entire menagerie was squeezed into a FEMA City trailer.
"There were cats everywhere - on the counters, couches, floors. The odor was pretty atrocious," said Animal Control Officer Reannon Juergensen.
The trailer belongs to Laurie Somers.
Animal control raided her trailer in early February. FEMA agents say they had no idea what was going on inside because the distraction of last years storms made it tough to send out inspectors.
"There was a big delay after Wilma, just because we had so much going on," said FEMA Spokesperson Denise Everhart.
In only 3 months without inspections, Somers' collection of animals grew enormously. It may be hard to believe but veterinarians say it's entirely possible.
"The gestation period for a cat is 63 days. Do the math. There's only two months from the time they're impregnated to the time they give birth," said Veterinarian Noreen Rios.
Somers lost all her pets. Now she's in danger of losing her trailer.
"If the manufactured home is ruined they will get a letter of non-compliance and that means they're in violation of the lease and they will be given 10 days to surrender their home," said Everhart.
The future seems brighter for most of the animals. Some already have a new home and a new lease on life.
Most of the animals rescued from the cramped trailer are in good health and are available for adoption from the Animal Welfare League in Port Charlotte.
Laurie Somers is under investigation by animal control officers and could be charged with neglect. Neighborhood MapFor more information about the Interactive Animal Cruelty Maps, see the map notes.
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