Nebraska: Accused cat hoarders Clifford Gray and Juanita Gray face felony animal cruelty charges

NEBRASKA -- A Lakeland couple will be formally charged next week for hoarding 41 cats in their home.

Clifford M. Gray and Juanita K. Gray will be arraigned in District Court at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 25 on charges of felonious cruelty to animals, a class four felony. The charge carries a maximum of five years imprisonment, a $10,000 fine, or both.

The cats, most of them chronically ill, were discovered at the Grays' Lakeland home on July 17 when Washington County Sheriff's deputies served a health inspection warrant.

37 CATS EUTHANIZED

All but four of the cats were euthanized by the Nebraska Humane Society due to upper respiratory infections and poor health. 

The Grays' home was declared uninhabitable and condemned.

Neighbors had previously complained of a large number of cats in the neighborhood, and the smell coming from the home.

One of the four surviving cats was put down a few weeks after the others because it bit workers. The remaining survivors are kittens and are currently fostered out. Pam Wiese of the Nebraska Humane Society said the kittens must gain more weight before they can be adopted.

(Pilot-Tribune - Aug 17, 2009)

Earlier:

• Nebraska: Animal hoarders Juanita Gray and Clifford Gray were convicted of animal cruelty in 2005. Police found them with more than 40 animals - 36 had to be euthanized