 Hoarding - over 21 cats seized
Trumbull, CT (US)Date: Jul 20, 2006
Local Map: available
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged: Stuart F. Smith
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An elderly Kingsbury Drive man has been charged with 28 counts of animal cruelty for hoarding dozens of cats in his debris-strewn home. Stuart Smith, 75, surrendered at police headquarters on July 25.
The arrest comes after Animal Control Officer Lynn Dellabianco, assisted by animal control officers from around the state, rescued more than 21 cats June 20 from Smith's house, where he lived with his adult son.
Smith was released on a promise to appear in court next on August 2, 2006.
"He's been cooperating with us, and he'll call us if he captures more," Dellabianco said. "He did say he would sign over any of the cats at his house. There are still a lot of cats out there."
Many of the cats are semi-feral, she said, and living outdoors.
"We may have to go back to the house and try trapping them," Dellabianco said. "If you leave any there and they're unaltered, the population will just explode again."
She said neighbors have also alerted her when they spot any of the cats in the area.
There are 14 cats still at the animal shelter, Dellabianco said.
"There are four that are pretty friendly and we're trying to adopt them out," she said. "We're doing what we can."
Dellabianco said it can be difficult sometimes to get warrants for animal cruelty arrests.
"What I'm hoping is that the courts realize this is a psychological problem and it can re-occur if the right steps aren't taken," she said.
According to neighbors, there were more than 80 cats at the home.
During the execution of the June search-and-seizure warrant, many cats hid among debris strewn in the house or fled outside when officers entered.
Town building officials declared the house uninhabitable. Neighborhood MapFor more information about the Interactive Animal Cruelty Maps, see the map notes.
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