Animal Welfare Workers Save 71 Beagles Crammed In Small Home

Animal welfare workers removed 71 beagles from a cramped house in rural Pennsylvania, where officials say a woman had been breeding them without a license before she died last month.

The Lehigh County Humane Society got a call late Saturday night from police who responded to noise complaints at a home outside Allentown, said Barbara Morgan, the Humane Society's police officer.

The officers estimated about 25 dogs were inside the home. Four animal welfare workers and two trucks responded.

"Six hours later, we've removed 71 beagles," Morgan said, adding she had never seen so many animals squeezed into such a small space.

Many are sickly and underweight and all of the animals had fleas, she said. Several are showing symptoms of mange and others have vision issues and are possibly blind. They range in age from weeks old to senior-aged.

To read more on this story, click here: Animal Welfare Workers Save 71 Beagles Crammed In Small Home

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Animal Hoarding – What Do You Think?

I am not an expert on this subject. All of the views below come from other sources. I would like to know what you think about Animal Hoarding.

The Humane Society of the United States says:

What is an animal hoarder?
An animal hoarder is a person who amasses more animals than he/she can properly care for. Such individuals generally fail to recognize or refuse to acknowledge when the animals in their custody become victims of gross neglect. Animal hoarders are sometimes referred to as animal "collectors" or animal "addicts."

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA)  says:

What Is Animal Hoarding?
Animal hoarding is a complex and intricate public health and community issue. Its effects are far-reaching and encompass mental health, animal welfare and public safety concerns.


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Couple Splits Over 550 House Cats

A man from southern Israel divorced his wife  because she had brought 550 cats into their home.

The husband, apparently not a cat lover, told the Rabbinical Court in Beersheba that he was unable to sleep in his bedroom because the surface of the marital bed was constantly covered with cats who refused to lie on the floor.

The man, in his divorce request, complained that the cats also blocked his access to the bathroom and did not allow him to prepare meals in the kitchen, the Hebrew daily Maariv reported Wednesday. When he sat to eat, cats jumped onto the table and stole his food.

The couple attempted reconciliation at the behest of the rabbinical court. The wife, however, was unable to part from her cats… and preferred to part from her husband.


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Brooklyn Woman Convicted of Hoarding Rabbits Could Actually Be Too Crazy for Jail

The Brooklyn woman convicted of hoarding rabbits could actually be crazy enough to avoid jail.

Obsessed animal lover Dorota Trec underwent a court-ordered psychiatric exam Wednesday – two months after she was found guilty of abusing 100 rabbits that lived outside her Gowanus home in a trial at which she acted as her own lawyer.

The official results will be released later in February, but Trec, who faces up to two years behind bars, hinted that she won’t be doing hard time.

“I think this is leading to not putting me in prison,” Trec, 36, said outside the Brooklyn Supreme courtroom.

She believes she’ll instead be ordered to “come for treatment [by] a psychologist.”

Trec, who was charged with mistreating 125 of the furballs, represented herself during the wacky three-week jury trial.

The Polish-born bunny breeder said the person who evaluated her “was very surprised I did the case myself and that the same person who goes for an evaluation is allowed to do [a] trial.”

Earlier this month, Judge Curtis Farber said he was worried about “serious mental health issues” and ordered Trec to undergo the psych exam before he handed down his sentence.

“I am trying very hard to think of an appropriate sentence in your case,” he told her at the Jan. 13 hearing.

“I am not sick,” Trec shouted to the judge. “I am a very intelligent person.”

In December, the ASPCA came to seize 45 bunnies of the 90 Trec had from her yard. She claims she’s been trying to give the remaining furry creatures away ever since.

“I am always going to have animals around. Who can stop me? They will have to put me in jail,” Trec said Wednesday. “If [Judge Farber] puts me in prison, I will continue to work on plans” to build a bunny sanctuary.

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Rabbit Hoarder, Dorota Trec Gets 45 Days in Jail for Animal Cruelty

Dorota Trec was sentenced Friday in Brooklyn Criminal Court after she was convicted in November of abusing some 100 rabbits she kept in a squalid yard in the Gowanus section.

She had faced up to two years incarceration.

Judge Curtis Farber told Trec that she can’t keep any pets for five years and must undergo psychiatric treatment.

If she violates those terms, she faces a year behind bars.

She also has to pay the ASPCA more than $20,000 for veterinary treatment for the bunnies.




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Washington Humane Society-Washington Animal Rescue League: 63 Cats and Kittens Surrendered in DC Hoarding Case

Washington, DC -  Washington Humane Society -Washington Animal Rescue League   Animal Control and Humane Law Enforcement Officers have removed 63 cats and kittens from a home in Northwest Washington following a case of hoarding and inhumane treatment of animals.  The animals belonged to two women who had been living illegally in the residence.

On Tuesday evening, July 19, WHS-WARL Officers reported to the 800 block Decatur Avenue, NW after being contacted by the realtor for the home.  Officers arrived to find 63 cats on the property.  Of those 63 cats, 27 are kittens under one month old.

Upon entering the house, officers observed deplorable conditions inside, with feces located throughout the house both inside and outside of litter boxes.   There were between 20 -25 cats located inside the home.  Further investigation revealed a U-Haul van in the rear of the building containing approximately 20 adult cats and more than 30 kittens of various ages.  Many of the cats and kittens are suffering from Upper Respiratory Infections, are underweight, and were overheated due to confinement in the U-Haul trailer.

“This is an extreme case of hoarding and inhumane treatment of animals,” said Lisa LaFontaine, President and CEO of WHS-WARL.  “These cats and kittens, most of whom are in very vulnerable condition, will require medical care, proper nutrition and humane living conditions – all of which they have been denied until the moment they entered our care. With an intake of 63 cats and kittens over a 24 hour period, WHS-WARL’s ability to house these animals and provide them with the resources they need will be taxed.  Thankfully, we expect to adopt more than 150 animals on Saturday at a special adoptions event which should allow us to give these cats and kittens undivided attention and space for recovery.”

Officers removed 38 cats and kittens on Tuesday evening and returned to the property Wednesday to remove the remaining animals.  The cats and kittens were immediately taken to the Animal Care facility at New York Avenue where they will be evaluated by WHS-WARL medical staff.

This WHS-WARL Humane Law Enforcement case remains under investigation.

The special adoption event referred to is Clear the Shelters, an annual national program that offers fee-waived adoptions to qualified adopters on Saturday, July 23 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.  Both WHS-WARL Adoption Centers (71 Oglethorpe Street, NW and 1201 New York Avenue, NE) will be open for this program.

UPDATE ON THIS CASE:

WHS-WARL Officers recovered 44 cats and kittens from the home.  The residents of the home took approximately 20 cats when they left the address overnight.

About Washington Animal Rescue League /Washington Humane Society (WARL-WHS)
The Washington Humane Society -Washington Animal Rescue League combined organization cares for more than 60,000 animals annually. The broad range of programs offered include: rescue and adoption, humane law enforcement, low-cost veterinary services, animal care & control, behavior and training, spay-neuter services, humane education, and many others.  Operating four animal-care facilities in Washington, D.C., the organization occupies a significant footprint in the District, and serves as a resource to current pet guardians and prospective adopters across the region.

The Pet Tree House will keep you updated on their availability for adoption.

Please share with family, friends, co-workers and neighbors.

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Some of the Dogs Seized from a Rockville, Maryland, Home on January 1, Are Available for Adoption

More than 60 dogs seized from a Rockville, Maryland, home on Jan. 1 are in legal custody of the Montgomery County Animal Services Division.

Authorities came to the house in the 13000 block of Glen Mill Road for the first time on Dec. 31, following up on a dog bite case. While there, they began to suspect the presence of many animals, but police said the homeowner didn't cooperate with their requests.

They returned to the home on New Year’s Day at about 6:30 p.m. with a warrant and searched the home. Officials removed 66 dogs and took them to the Montgomery County Animal Services and Adoption Center in Derwood, Maryland.

Several of the dogs required immediate medical attention. Three of the 66 dogs had to be humanely euthanized because they suffered from severe medical conditions that were likely a source of extreme pain.

The rest of the dogs were evaluated, bathed and groomed. The shelter said some of the dogs are ready for adoption while others, about half of the group, will go to rescue partners or other regional shelters that can support the special needs of the dogs.

Because the case is still under investigation, the shelter has not released information about the homeowner or the environment in which the animals were kept. Investigators have not filed charges to date.

For information about how to adopt the dogs, please visit the Montgomery County Animal Services & Adoption Center. 

Related: Animal Control Officers Seized a Total of 66 Dogsfrom a Home in Rockville, Maryland

                   Kenya is an 8-year-old female Pit Bull available for adoption.

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The Rescue of 66 Dogs from a Dilapidated Rockville Home Being Treated as a ‘Criminal Case’

Rockville, Maryland - The staff at the Montgomery County Animal Services Center remains perplexed after staff there rescued 66 dogs from a dilapidated Rockville home on Friday, January 1st.

"We literally doubled our dog population in one day," Tom Koenig, director of Montgomery County Animal Services, told ABC7. "It's remarkable to me."

On Thursday, December 31st, animal control officers responded to a dog bite call at a home along the 13200 block of Glen Mill Road. While on-site, the female homeowner acted hostile and was overall uncooperative. Officers sensed a large number of dogs were inside her three-bedroom home. They wrote a report and obtained a search warrant. Then around 6:30 p.m. Friday, they returned, search warrant in tow, and discovered the 66 dogs of all shapes, sizes and breeds.

It took 16 hours for staff to transport, catalog, and provide medical care to every animal over the holiday weekend. Although specific treatment has not been disclosed, Koenig says it ran the gamut from minor to major remedies.

Now, officers are constructing a criminal case. Was this a dog fighting ring? A puppy mill? Or a homegrown animal rescue gone awry? Investigators have their suspicions, but have not publicly identified the alleged motive.

"The homeowner could certainly face charges, but that has not been decided yet," Koenig added. "We'll charge as the law provides and there will be due diligence in that regard."

The criminal evidence list is long. It includes all 66 dogs, which has prevented the animal services center from releasing photos or pictures of the rescued animals.

"It was not healthy for them and we feel now they are in a better situation with us than they were there," Koenig concluded.

Veterinarians hope all 66 dogs will one day be available for public adoption, but many have a long road to recovery.

Related: Animal Control Officers Seized a Total of 66 Dogs from a Home in Rockville, Maryland

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Animal Control Officers Seized a Total of 66 Dogs from a Home in Rockville, Maryland

Rockville, Maryland - More than 60 dogs were seized Friday evening from a home in Rockville after Montgomery County animal service officers found the dogs living in unfit conditions.

Officers seized a total of 66 dogs from the home, some of which were in need of immediate medical attention.

According to animal services, officers were called to the home Thursday evening while investigating a dog bite case. While there, the officers made several notes about the property and suspected a large number of animals lived inside the home.

The homeowner was also uncooperative with officers and did not aid them in locating the dog involved in the bite case, animal services said.

The dogs were found to be in varying medical and behavioral conditions and additional examinations will be conducted.

An investigation is pending and the lead investigator for animal services said the case is "complex due to its size."

The dogs are currently being cared for by animal services.

Jill Asman lives two houses down from the suspect. She said, “I could hear the dogs barking at night when everything else was quiet, but I had no idea it was that many dogs.”

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2-Year-Old Boy Found in Filthy Home with Dozens of Dead and Dying Animals

Gray Court, South Carolina - A 2-year-old boy remains in the hospital in critical condition after he was found unconscious in a filthy home with dozens of dead and dying animals, Laurens County authorities said Wednesday.

Authorities charged Savannah Victoria Morgan, 25, of Gray Court, with three counts of child neglect and one count of child abuse and cruelty to animals, according to arrest warrants.

On Tuesday evening, deputies were called to a home where they noticed “deplorable living conditions and a foul odor within,”  according to an incident report.

Animal Control officers seized nearly 90 animals from the scene Tuesday night. The list of deceased animals included 48 rats, 11 gerbils, 10 python snakes, six tarantula spiders and two bearded dragons.

Warrants allege Morgan exposed a 2-year-old to physical abuse, causing the boy to suffer medical injuries such as bleeding in the brain and bruising to the head, neck and back.

The child was airlifted to Greenville Memorial Hospital, authorities said.

The boy’s mother originally told deputies that he choked on some chips and that she called 911 when she went into his room and saw he wasn’t breathing, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

Two other children were taken into emergency protective custody due to suspected physical abuse, the Sheriff’s Office said.

Deputies said they saw soiled diapers, clothing, feces, trash and broken glass on the floor and numerous live and deceased animals kept in plastic bins and cages. Two emaciated dogs were found chained up behind the residence and had no food or water, one report said.

Morgan is being held at the Laurens County Detention Center, where jail officials said her bond was set at $85,000.

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Woman Spends $141,598.35 A Year Taking Care 122 Abandoned Cats

Bromley, Kentucky  - A mother-of-two has revealed how she spends $141,598.35 a year looking after more than 120 rescue cats.

Silvana Valentino-Locke, 55, even employs two live-in 'cat nannies' to look after her pet posse at her home.

Even more surprising than the dozens of cats and jaw-dropping care costs, Mrs. Valentino-Locke, who has been married to Tony for 32 years, says her spouse does not mind her cat obsession.

“Every man who comes to adopt a cat always asks, do you have a husband? They can't believe anyone would tolerate all these cats,” she told The Mirror.

Luckily Tony works long hours so he doesn't see all the work of caring for them.

Mrs. Valentino-Locke began turning their home into a rescue center more than 20 years ago, adding that it 'reached full potential' in 1998 and became the Romney House Cat Rescue.

She now has 52 cats living with her and Tony in their four-bedroom home, with some 30-40 waiting to find new homes, housed in a number of garden sheds which have been converted into cat houses.

Mrs. Valentino-Locke, who has two sons with Tony Jr., age 27, and Daniel, 30. Tony has also taken in some 30 'feral' cats, who all live and roam free in a neighboring field.

Caring for the 122 cats, which constantly changes as kittens are born and cats adopted - is a full-time job and a costly one.

She spends approximately $786.66 per week on the daily feeds. With 12 litter trays to change every day, the cost of litter alone is $47.20 per day.

She employs two live-in 'cat nannies', who are paid $393.33 a week plus food and board, and can spend as much as  $7,079.92 a-month on veterinary bills.

She is devoted to the cause of caring for the cats, and gets up at 6.30 a.m. every morning to take care of them. Sometimes she doesn’t get to bed until after midnight.

The annual total of $141,598.35 is funded 50% by Tony, who runs a courier film, with the rest covered by donations, fundraising drives and her charity shop.

Despite the 52 cats sharing a home with her and Tony, she refuses to let her obsession affect her standards. With the help of her staff, the couple's Kent home is cleaned from top to bottom, twice a day. 

“It takes about an hour and a half. We mop every floor and clean furniture,” she told The Mirror.

“It's a long, exhausting job. The phone is always ringing with people who have cats that need to be rescued.” she said.

Her life with her 122 cats has now become the subject of a Channel 5 documentary, called ‘90 Cats & Counting: Cat Crazies’, set to air on Wednesday, July 1.  

  

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Lauderdale County Couple Charged in Hoarding Case; More Than 200 Animals Found on Their Property

Lauderdale County, Ala. (WHNT) – A Shoals couple has been jailed on charges of animal cruelty. The remains of several horses were found on their property late Thursday evening by authorities who were investigating a citizen complaint.

Deputies say the couple had more than 200 animals on the Central Heights property, all of which have been seized by animal control officers.

To read more on this story, click here: Lauderdale County Couple Charged in Hoarding Case; More Than 200 Animals Found on Their Property
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St. Petersburg Woman Faces Dilemma After Rats Overrun Home

St. Petersburg  - With hundreds of rodents running loose in her house, a St. Pete woman knows she has a problem. But no one can quite agree on how to help Florine Brown.

"The rats have taken over," she admitted. "They are in every room, pretty much, in the house."

The SPCA estimates there at 300 to 500 rats inside the home on 10th Avenue South. Brown said they are practically her family -- or at least their earlier relatives were.

She said it all started with a handful of pet rats two years ago, until some escaped. The rats did their thing, and pretty soon, a few rats had turned into a few hundred.

Browns said she called the SPCA a year ago seeking help, but the agency told her they didn't have room for the rodents. She didn't have the heart to fumigate.

"I want to save them," she explained.

Now the home is filled with feces and the odor is overpowering. Brown, 29, doesn't know what to do. She'd like to humanely trap and remove the squeaky squatters, but that's easier said than done.

"Everyone hates them but I just want to give them love," she added. "Everyone says bad things about rats and I've never been sick or had any diseases or anything."

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Couple Splits Over 550 House Cats

A man from southern Israel divorced his wife this week because she had brought 550 cats into their home.

The husband, apparently not a cat lover, told the Rabbinical Court in Beersheba that he was unable to sleep in his bedroom because the surface of the marital bed was constantly covered with cats who refused to lie on the floor.

The man, in his divorce request, complained that the cats also blocked his access to the bathroom and did not allow him to prepare meals in the kitchen, the Hebrew daily Maariv reported Wednesday. When he sat to eat, cats jumped onto the table and stole his food.

The couple attempted reconciliation at the behest of the rabbinical court. The wife, however, was unable to part from her cats… and preferred to part from her husband.


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