Odessa (TX) pair face charges in cases that led to euthanizing of 146 cats

[zippy-kat]

This happened approximately 2 hours away from where I live:


Odessa Pair Face Charges in Cases that Led to Eunthanizing of 146 Cats

Two Odessa residents face 45 counts of animal cruelty after authorities found 146 feral cats confined in a home that police say reeked with odor.

Animal control officials had to euthanize all the cats to prevent disease from spreading to other animals in the city's shelter. The cats were suffering from eye diseases and mange, among other ailments, said Cheryl Brom, animal control manager for the Odessa Police Department.

Russell Dee Sanderson, 50, and Deborah Kay Atkinson, 51, were arrested and arraigned on animal cruelty charges Monday. They were released after posting $1,000 bond each.

There was no telephone listing in Odessa for either Sanderson or Atkinson.

"That's a lot of cats, but there's nothing cruel about that," said defense attorney Robert Leahey of Odessa. "I think they obviously had an affinity for cats."

Authorities went to the home April 17 after neighbors complained of a foul odor. The residents were issued a Class C misdemeanor citation for offensive odor from more than four animals and told to take care of the odor problem before a second visit about a week later.

On April 23, animal control officers returned and found the odor persisted. A second citation was issued and residents again refused to let the officers inside to inspect the home.

Armed with a seizure warrant, the animal control officers returned the next day and euthanized 24 cats. In subsequent days, the remaining cats also were euthanized.

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality also was called to the house because of several air-quality complaints the commission received about the smell.

If convicted of all the Class A misdemeanor charges, Sanderson and Atkinson could each face up to 45 years in jail and a $180,000 fine.


Another link: Two face Multiple Charges of Cruelty to Animals

[bluekat]

OMG, it makes me so mad how many cats are being euthanized these days. There are always a large amount of cats in a cruel home, and they always end up being euthanized. Why do people own so many when they don't even act nice to them?

[moosmom]

Bluekat,

It's called Cat Hoarding. It's an illness. Read on:

http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/13...illness+.shtml

http://www.wauu.de/Recreation/Pets/Issues/Hoarding/

While some people think they are doing the right thing by rescuing and giving homes to cats and dogs, they end up collecting them, forcing them to live in disgusting conditions. They are so overwhelmed by the number of animals, that they cannot properly care for them or get them the medical attention they need.

I posted a thread on a man in Detroit who had 249 cats in his home. All of them were very sick. The lived in deplorable conditions with no food, water, light or air. All had to be euthanized because they were too feral, sick and diseased to be placed.

It's a sad situation but it happens all over.

[IttyBittyKitty]

Those poor, poor babies! Gosh, you hear so many cases of that happening. I do hope they are punished for their wanton acts of negligence! I know they would have started with good intentions, but we all know that the road to Hell is paved with good intentions. If you knew anything about the care of cats, or indeed animals, you would know that your cats are living in digusting conditions!

It makes me so sad.

[marysmerrycats]

it's just so sad

[RICHARD]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by zippy-kat
[B]
This happened approximately 2 hours away from where I live:




if you decide to drive over there and personally slap the
poop out of those two, let me know- i'll send you money for gas.

[krazyaboutkatz]

This makes me so mad and sad at the same time. I sure hope that the two women will be charged for the horrible crime that they committed.