When the Bucks County SPCA showed up at Parkersey’s apartment last week, they rescued 14 cats that had been abandoned after tenants moved out.
Humane cops had no idea how to find the woman. Eventually she found them. The next day, she showed up at her Quakertown Shelter at the Department of Animal Welfare. she wasn’t alone.
Her van had 37 cats left home, including a mother and a newborn kitten. After speaking with staff at her agency, the woman agreed to hand over the 51 cats.
But it wasn’t the last time the agency would see her. A few days later she returned with more cats. This was the largest animal hoarding case handled by authorities this year.
As of Tuesday, the woman has handed over a total of 76 cats, many of them in poor health.
Bucks County SPCA spokeswoman Cindy Kelly said on Thursday, “There may be another round yet. I feel like she hasn’t caught everything.”
Summary and misdemeanor criminal charges related to animal neglect are pending against owners of cats that authorities have not identified, Kelly said. This allows veterinarians to assess a cat’s condition before filing a complaint.
Humanitarian law enforcement officers had been trying to investigate the owner for months after receiving a complaint of neglect, but were unable to enter the property, Kelly said. , also did not respond to the agency’s notice left on the estate.
After the eviction, the SPCA notified that the cat had been left behind, and Humane Officers no longer needed a search warrant to access the apartment where the cat was found living in unsanitary and unhealthy conditions. said Kelly.
After the owner surrendered 37 cats, she told SPCA staff that there were more cats she could not take and released them. The woman then returned to her apartment, where she set traps outside to catch others and bring them to the SPCA.
Kelly didn’t know how long the woman had been caring for the cats, but estimated it could be a year or more before he turned 75, and some cats had been neutered. but added that many cats had not been spayed.
“Those kinds of problems can happen quickly,” she said.
So far, 21 of the healthy cats have been neutered, microchipped and taken to new homes. Other cats are available for adoption, Kelly said.
However, dozens of cats are being treated for upper respiratory tract infections and other ailments. They remain in shelters or are cared for by trained foster volunteers until they are healthy and ready for adoption.
One cat required emergency surgery and is recovering at the shelter clinic. Several cats and kittens handed over this week are also in poor health, Kelly added.
The massive influx of animals took a toll on shelters and their staff just days before the Christmas holidays. Kelly said it helps speed up the adoption process because the owner has voluntarily relinquished custody.
Typically, in cases of hoarding and neglect, the animal owner refuses to cooperate with the agency, and the agency must take legal action to obtain custody.
SPCA Executive Director Linda Ryder called these animal hoarding cases “complex and heartbreaking.” She urged anyone struggling to properly care for their animals to accept the agency’s help sooner or later.
“Some people are hesitant to accept our help because they cling to old stereotypes and fear that their animals will be euthanized. The SPCA is there to save lives,” said Reider. . “Euthanasia is a last resort and should only be used for severe medical or behavioral cases.”
The Bucks SPCA has not necessarily seen an increase in hoarding incidents, but an increase in people facing evictions and other serious financial hardships that ultimately endanger the animals in their care. said Kelly.
“People may start out with good intentions, but failing to see and address the needs of the animals they care for can lead to serious cases of neglect.” For animals living and suffering from untreated disease, this is horrific.”
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