Hoarding 39 cats, 1 dog Westmont, NJ (US) Date: Jun 2006 County: Camden Disposition: Alleged Alleged: Margaret Broadhurst

Case ID: 9255 Classification: Hoarding Animal: dog (non pit-bull), cat View more cases in NJ (US) Login to Watch this Case

About 39 cats and one dog were wasting away in the home of Margaret Broadhurst of the unit block of Windwood Avenue, Westmont, Haddon Township, according to Captain Sy Goldberg, of the police division of the New Jersey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Broadhorst, he said, is believed in her 60s' and is employed locally at a supermarket.

"She wasn't taking care of them,"Goldberg said of Broadhorst, who has been charged with multiple counts of cruelty to animals.

The dog, a Chihauhaua, had lost all its fur to flea infestation, according to Goldberg.

"It showed symptoms of having a thyroid allergy, and when I saw the dog it had very little skin on his back and other areas of the body, areas that were bleeding from all the scratching," Goldberg said.

Some of the animals showed respiratory problems, while others had their eyes caked closed in dried puss.

"When I saw them they had problems breathing," Goldberg said. "The cats had to be put under."

In fact, he said, five of the total number of hoarded animals had to be euthanized, Goldberg said, while another five required veterinary treatment.

The odor of cat urine had saturated the Broadhurst home, penetrating the cinderblock/fire wall between that residence and the one next door, Goldberg said.

"The odor of ammonia was so strong in the neighbor's house, it was as strong as it was in her house, even though it had gone through a concrete wall," the SPCA official said.

Although filing charges against Broadhorst that could lead to her getting jail time, Goldberg expressed sympathy for her situation.

"She was trying to save the animals," he said. "She didn't want them to be put to sleep. The problem was, she wanted to save everything."

Broadhorst has been ordered to fumigate the house and to have the remaining animals treated for flea infestation, Goldberg said, adding arrangements are being made to place most of the remaining animals in more capable homes.

"She took five to the Camden County Humane Society in Blackwood Wednesday," Goldberg said. "They were able to save them. They were all infested with fleas."

According to Goldberg, the dog was not euthanized, but was one of the animals treated.

Broadhorst will be able to maintain custody of up to six animals. Goldberg explained the township ordinance allows a typical home to have as many as four cats and two dogs, but no more than that.

He said that he will make repeated visits to ensure Broadhorst is taking proper care of the few animals she has left.

She will face her charges in a local court hearing later in July 2006, Goldberg said. Conviction on one count carries a wide range of potential penalties, including fines from $250 to $1,000, a six-month jail term, or 30 days of community service.

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References

Haddon Herald - July 7, 2006

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