Animal control services removed about 100 cats from an Arlington home where an unidentified 58-year old woman had been living in squalor.
The mother moved out the house less than a year ago after an illness and the daughter left the house a few days ago. The woman didn't have any transportation and was placed in assisted living care after a probate court determined she could not care for herself. The woman's 87-year old mother was moved from the house to a nursing home.
A neighbor, Phillip Johns, said he now regrets not calling the authorities a couple of years ago when the daughter said they had about 30 cats in the house.
Guardianship Services asked the woman not be identified because of her condition.
In the three bedroom brick home at Fielder Road and Larkspur Street the authorities found malnourished cats in every room. The floors, walls and furniture were covered in cat urine and feces and the stench could be smelled from outside.
Since the woman's relatives couldn't care for her, she was assigned Guardianship Services, a nonprofit agency, to care for the woman after learning last week about her living conditions from a neighbor. It is thought the woman is not fully aware of her environment. "She understood her love for her cats. I don't think she understood the filth she was living in."
Animal Services caught approximately 30 cats in an hour. Live traps will be used to catch the rest of the cats.
The cats will be examined by a veterinarian at the city animal shelter. Many of the cats had visible wounds and appeared thin. There was not any food inside the house.
Some of the cats will be adopted out and others will be put down.
The two women did not have any regular visitors and would not let anyone inside her home.
The house will be released to a relative of the woman. Neighborhood MapFor more information about the Interactive Animal Cruelty Maps, see the map notes.
Back to Top References | Dallas Morning News - Mar 11, 2004 | | Fort Worth Star-Telegram - Mar 11, 2004 |
« TX State Animal Cruelty Map
|
