15 cats, 3 dogs seized from filthy home Milwaukee, WI (US) Incident Date: Tuesday, Jul 18, 2000 County: Milwaukee Local Map: available Disposition: Alleged Alleged: Kathleen Reichert

Case ID: 9074 Classification: Hoarding Animal: cat, dog (non pit-bull) View more cases in WI (US) Login to Watch this Case

Kathleen Reichert, 50, was arrested at her home on misdemeanor charges of mistreating her three dogs and 15 cats.

The police said the home was in such horrible condition the officers who went inside had to come outside to get fresh air. The pets were locked inside the home on 3025 North 40th Street under filthy conditions.

The next door neighbor, Takesha Johnson, said she saw the animals as they were being removed from the home. Johnson said, "It was actually atrocious. All the animals were being eaten by fleas and they were all dirty. The fleas had eaten so much of the hair off of the kittens and cats that they just couldn't stand properly."

A decomposing cat was found underneath the aquarium tank.

Reichert's neighbors had confronted her about the terrible stench coming from her home. When the police arrived, they suspected it could be a dead body in the home, but it was the combination of feces, urine and the dead cat.

Reichert said, "... the dogs have been confined in the residence for the last four months ... as a result of her work schedule she had been too tired to clean up the dog feces in her residence."

The cats and dogs are being cared for by the Domestic Animal Control Center. If their health improves, they will be put up for adoption.

Reichert said she believes she is able to look after all her animals when she isn't working such long hours.

If convicted of the charges, she could face 4-1/2 years in prison or $60,000 in fines or both.

The house has been deemed uninhabitable by the City of Milwaukee because of the conditions found inside the home.

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References

WTMJ, Channel 4, Milwaukee - July 22, 2000

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