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Case ID: 9846
Classification: Hoarding
Animal: cat
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Case #9846 Rating: 3.1 out of 5



Hoarding 41 cats
Thurmont, MD (US)

Incident Date: Monday, Oct 23, 2006
County: Frederick

Disposition: Convicted

Defendant/Suspect: Martha J. Burkett

Case Updates: 2 update(s) available

Almost 40 cats were euthanized after being taken out of a Thurmont woman's home.

Frederick County animal control officers seized 41 cats from 58-year-old Martha Burkett's property on Kelly's Store Road earlier this month.

Officers say Burkett did not provide enough medical care for 32 cats living inside and say many of the cats were suffering from upper-respiratory problems.

Animal control officials say only three of Burkett's cats could be saved. Burkett faces six counts of animal neglect and 26 counts of not providing veterinary care.

"I don't think it was a cruelty case in that she was purposely and intentionally hurting these animals having upper respiratory in this environment. It just became too much; five cats multiplied to 10 cats to 20 cats to 40 cats," says Harold Domer of Frederick County Animal Control.

Each count carries a maximum sentence of 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.


Case Updates

A woman accused of neglecting dozens of sick cats was sentenced Tuesday for failing to provide animals with veterinary care.

Although the matter was reminiscent of a previous animal cruelty case decided less than three weeks ago, Martha Jane Burkett's case was nowhere near as serious as that of Patricia K. Nicholson of Mount Airy, said Assistant State's Attorney Tammy M. Leache.

Hundreds of cats -- more dead than alive -- littered Nicholson's $500,000 residence.

Burkett, 58, a Thurmont resident, was facing 32 cases of animal cruelty, according to court records.

In early October, officers with the Frederick County Division of Animal Control removed 41 cats from Burkett's residence in the 6800 block of Kellys Store Road. Thirty-eight of the cats had to be euthanized because of illness or temperament problems, according to court records.

Seven months before, animal control officers had taken about 70 cats from the residence but did not charge her. They chose to offer her education instead and gave her information on spaying and neutering.

She ignored their advice, causing her residence's cat population to grow with new litters of kittens.

"The number continued to get out of control," Ms. Leache said.

In an agreement reached by defense attorney Bryon C. Black and Ms. Leache, Burkett pleaded guilty to two of the 32 charges. Each misdemeanor charge is punishable by 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.

Frederick County District Court Judge Janice Rodnick Ambrose granted Burkett probation before judgment, placed her on three years of unsupervised probation and ordered her to pay court costs and $210 restitution for veterinary bills.

Suspending a $500 fine, Judge Ambrose allowed Burkett to keep her dog because animal control officers said its behavior prevented it from being adopted. The judge let her keep her birds and said Burkett's brother could have his cat at the residence he shares with his sister. His cat appeared in good health.

Judge Ambrose prohibited Burkett from having any other animals during the period of probation.

Should she violate conditions of probation, Burkett could be ordered to serve 180 days in jail and pay the suspended $500 fine.
Source: Frederick News-Post - Dec 20, 2006
Update posted on Dec 20, 2006 - 5:35PM 
Ms. Burkett is scheduled to appear in Frederick County District Court in December.

Animal Control Officer Deborah Norris' investigation began with an anonymous letter that claimed nearly 80 cats were being kept and neglected at a house on Kellys Store Road, Mr. Domer said.

Animal control officers had recovered about 70 cats from that address in March 2006, but did not place charges, treating the incident as a learning experience for the owner, Mr. Domer said.

Officers worked with animal rescue groups and shelters to place as many of the cats in March as they could, and they gave Ms. Burkett information and contacts to spay or neuter the remaining cats.

"That never took place," Mr. Domer said.

In the case of the 41 cats, Officer Norris said many were older than kitten-bearing age, and she wasn't sure where Ms. Burkett obtained the rest or how they multiplied, according to Mr. Domer.
Source: Frederick News-Post - Oct 24, 2006
Update posted on Oct 24, 2006 - 11:39PM 

References

  • « MD State Animal Cruelty Map
    « More cases in Frederick County, MD

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