Hoarding - 15 cats Oxford, CT (US) Incident Date: Monday, Mar 6, 2006 County: New Haven Local Map: available Disposition: Alleged Alleged: Leonard G. Gerst

Case ID: 7634 Classification: Hoarding Animal: cat View more cases in CT (US) Login to Watch this Case

The owner of 15 cats confiscated from an Oxford Road home in March 2006 has refused to give up custody of the cats.

Assistant Dog Warden Cory Wlasuk said the town asked the owner to turn over the cats to the town so they can be adopted, but he refused. The cats must now remain in custody of the dog warden and used as evidence if the owner, Leonard Gerst of 643 Oxford Road, is charged in connection with the case. "We have to keep the cats at the pound as evidence if he won't sign them over,'' she said.

On March 6, Gerst was served a search and seizure warrant after a complaint was filed by a Meals on Wheels worker that the cats looked sick. Of the 15 cats confiscated at the home, two had to be euthanized. The remaining cats have upper respiratory infections, flea infestation, ear infections and two had eye infections and the cats had some dental problems. Gerst could not be reached for comment Thursday.

Gerst now faces the possibility of being charged with cruelty to animals, said Wayne Kasacek, assistant director of the Bureau of Regulations and Inspections for the state Department of Agriculture. The agriculture department has a state animal control division which is investigating the case, he said.

Kasacek said the home the animals were kept in did contain cat feces and there was a "stench of cat urine,'' in the home and there was an elderly woman in her 70s living there along with two children, ages 12 and 18.

Wlasuk said the cats are being given medication and are doing better.

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Waterbury, Connecticut Republican American

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