Hoarding 67 cats
Clayton, NJ (US)Incident Date: Monday, Jul 3, 2006
County: Gloucester
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged: Doris Gay
Sixty-seven cats removed from a West Clayton Avenue home are in "rough shape" and investigating officers stayed inside only 10 minutes at a time because of high levels of carbon monoxide and ammonia from the animals' urine, a lead investigator said.
The New Jersey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has investigated four cases of animal cruelty in the last two weeks in the tri-county area, but there isn't an increase of people hoarding large numbers of pets in their home, Capt. Sy Goldberg said.
Recent news reports have raised the public's awareness, Goldberg said. Neighbors are often the first ones who suspect something may be wrong because they can smell the strong stench of animal waste when they step outdoors, he said.
"They're finding that they can call somebody and can get results," Goldberg said.
In the Clayton case, the homeowner, Doris Gay, faces 134 counts of animal cruelty -- two for each cat -- for failing to provide shelter and necessary care, and more summonses are pending, Goldberg said.
Animal cruelty is a disorderly persons offense, punishable by a maximum $1,000 fine, jail time and community service. The SPCA is pursuing both criminal and civil charges.
"These people don't mean to harm these animals. They think they're helping the animals, but, in reality, they're hurting them," Goldberg said. The SPCA had been trying to gain access to Gay's home since May, but the woman refused to answer the door. On Monday (July 3), however, she inexplicably let borough police and an SPCA officer inside and consented to a property search.
Officers discovered human waste being stored in buckets and bins in a second-floor bedroom. A toilet in the bathroom on the same floor wasn't working, but the first-floor bathroom was, Goldberg said.
Animal excrement was scattered throughout the house. There was flea infestation and cats milling around the two cats that were found dead, Goldberg said.
All the cats had upper-respiratory illnesses and one dog with a nice temperament suffered from flea bites and had missing patches of fur, he said.
The animals were sent to the county animal shelter for evaluation, but their condition was not immediately available.
Gay is staying in a hotel until the borough can arrange for alternative housing. Her house could become habitable again once it has been fumigated and cleaned. References« NJ State Animal Cruelty Map
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