House with 76 cats had to be demolished Cleveland, OH (US) Incident Date: Wednesday, Mar 18, 1992 County: Cuyahoga Local Map: available Disposition: Convicted Abuser/Suspect: Mary Jane Richards

Case ID: 9057 Classification: Hoarding, Neglect / Abandonment Animal: cat View more cases in OH (US) Suspect was in animal welfare field Login to Watch this Case

Mary Jane Richards, 58, pleaded no contest to one count of attempted animal cruelty.

Richards lived in her home in Cleveland with approximately 76 cats until it was demolished on March 18. There is an investigation into whether the home was demolished with the cats still inside the home. The home was demolished by a bulldozer, because it was condemned and had been ruled a health hazard.

Richards said, "They just came to my house on March 18 with a bulldozer and said I had five minutes to get out of the house. I didn't even have time to get my medicine out. I tried to reach a lawyer on a phone to stop it, but before I could, the house was demolished."

The city and the Animal Protective League officials are still trying to determine who gave the orders to demolish the home without first removing the cats. Volunteers searched through the rubble of the home rescuing 70 cats. Some of the rescued cats have feline leukemia and need special care.

The officials said there was up to 6 inches of cat feces and urine on the floor and cats were living everywhere, even inside the walls of the home.

Richards denied the home was as bad as officials said. She said, "I had four or five litter boxes for the 51 cats. I know I need more than that. But I lived in the house; it wasn't as terrible as they claim." She was planning to take the cats, eight at a time to shelters in Lakewood and Bay Village. She didn't want to give any of the cats to the Animal Protective League because she thought they would kill the cats. She was not aware of low-cost spay and neuter clinics.

Richard was ordered on Oct 26 to perform 100 hours of service at an animal shelter; received a 90-day suspended sentence, and two years of probation.

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References

	Plain Dealer Reporter - Oct 27, 1992
	Plain Dealer Reporter - Sept 24, 1992
	Plain Dealer Reporter - Mar 24, 1992

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