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http://www.wptv.com/content/news/top...7b_TYzWEA.cspx
Police find animals in 'coffins for cats'
Reported by: Bryan Garner
PORT ST. LUCIE, FL -- Port St. Lucie police arrested three people for animal cruelty after finding dozens of cats locked in boxes that one officer called "coffins for cats."
Police made the discovery Saturday. They received a call from a man who recently bought a home on the 300 block of Archer Avenue.
The man discovered a stack of wooden boxes left stacked in his new neighbor's back yard. The boxes were "completely surrounded and enclosed by garbage," allowing little air flow to get in.
Police found cats locked inside the boxes, which were screwed shut. Each box had a small vent; but the boxes were stacked, covered the lower vents and allowing no air inside.
"To me, that's a coffin for cats," said Tom Nichols, a Port St. Lucie Police spokesperson.
The animals were "panting heavily" when officers removed them from the containers.
Police learned the boxes were left by the previous owners of the home, James and Sheila Eskew and their daughter, Jessica.
When interviewed, the Eskews told police they planned to move to North Carolina and they built the boxes to transport the cats in the back of their moving van.
Police seized 31 cats and 2 dogs from the family.
"Many of them are showing signs of aggression," said David Robertson of the Humane Society of St. Lucie County. "It could be directly related to the conditions they came from."
Police arrested James, Sheila and Jessica Eskew, charging them with animal cruelty, a misdemeanor.
When the family members were approached for comment after posting bond, they ran to their van and drove away.
There is a slideshow on the webpage that has 7 photos which include mugshots of the 3 people involved.
