39 Sickly cats & kittens taken from condemned home
Janesville, WI (US)Incident Date: Thursday, Feb 8, 2001
County: Rock
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged:
» Dan Zillmer
» Jeannine Zillmer
» Peggy Zillmer
Case Updates: 1 update(s) available
Dan Zillmer, 37, and Jeannine Zillmer, 42, will appear in Rock County Circuit Court on March 5 on misdemeanor neglect charges, they were also ticketed for having more than four animals in a residence.
A Rock County Humane Society employee and his sister were charged for animal mistreatment after 39 sickly kittens and cats were removed from their condemned home on Feb 8.
The humane society is also trying to reach Peggy Zillmer, another sister.
The police removed the cats out of a house that is said to have had hanging wires, holes in the wall, areas covered with cat feces and urine, dirty clothes and rotting food. Zillmer, who was fired by the humane society, told authorities the cats belong to another sister, Peggy Zillmer, who didn't live at the home.
Peggy Zillmer has not contacted the humane society about the cats which are now at the society and being cared for by the society. Taking care of the cats (board and veterinarian bills) is over $5,000.
Eighteen of the cats tested positive for a feline immunity disorder and neither they nor five of the remaining cats who are wild are adoptable.
The humane society has asked the city to get Peggy Zillmer to sign a property bond that would ensure payment of the bill. Peggy Zillmer has to be served with papers requesting the bond.
Humane Society Director Chris Konetski said the delay means the bills keep rising and this makes it difficult for the humane organization because the cats are so ill.
"We can't control the illness, and our research indicates they are in the 'end stage' and it won't be controlled. Their quality of life is very poor because they are sick - some of them dying. The humane thing to do would be to put them to sleep, but they aren't our cats. We've tried calling Peggy Zillmer and sending her a certified letter, but we have gotten no response."
Case UpdatesRock County Humane Society officials euthanized 35 sick cats and kittens. The cats and kittens were removed from a rundown and filthy Janesville home. A humane society employee and his sister were charged with animal mistreatment after the cats were seized.
The cats had been treated for nearly a month, the humane society staff euthanized them on Saturday.
"It was awful. We were giving them antibiotics, rehydrating them all the time and they weren't getting any better. They were suffering in spite of everything we did, they were going to keep suffering."
The cats and kittens were underweight, infested with fleas and ear mites, had eye and respiratory infections, and most of them tested positive for feline immunity.
Dan Zillmer, 37, who had worked in animal control for the society for a little more than one year and his sister, Jeannine, 42, were both charged with two counts of animal neglect. They pleaded not guilty to the charges and requested a jury trial.
Dan Zillmer said his sister, Peggy Zillmer, actually owned the cats and he and Jeannine Zillmer had been keeping the cats at their residence since October.
Jeannine Zillmer pleaded no contest to a city ticket for keeping too many animals and she was fined $212 during a Feb 27 court appearance. Daniel Zillmer pleaded not guilty and requested a jury trial.
The humane society paid more than $5,000 in board, veterinarian costs, medication, euthanasia and disposal and would be seeking restitution from the Zillmers. | Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinal
Update posted on Mar 14, 2006 - 7:34PM |
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