Deal was there to check on the well-being of a dog on the property. From outside the house, he noticed a strong odor, said Iredell County Animal Services Field Operations Supervisor Teri Somnitz.
That smell led the Mooresville Police Department to accompany animal services to the home Wednesday with a search and seizure warrant. After hours of work by a half-dozen animal services employees, 90 cats had been found at the home.
Iredell County Animal Services Director Brad Gates said that total includes two dead cats and one that had to be euthanized, bringing the total seized to 87.
After Deal seized the dog he originally was checking on, he alerted Somnitz of the strong stench of urine emanating from the house.
Somnitz went to investigate. She said they talked with the homeowner, asking to go inside and check on the health of the cats. The homeowner refused to allow her into the house.
Somnitz said the plan was to offer the woman help with the cats, from checking them for illnesses to spaying and neutering, but she refused any help.
A glimpse at some of the cats through a window convinced Somnitz that something needed to be done. The cats were in imminent danger.
So on Wednesday, a crew of a half-dozen officers and other personnel from Animal Services went to the 3,800-square-foot house with a warrant, which was served by an MPD officer.
Somnitz described the conditions inside the house “absolutely deplorable.” Nearly every room was filled with a variety of items, and, while some cats were in cages, others were running throughout the house, she said.
“It’s a shame that these cats have been subjected to these kinds of conditions,” she said.
It took more than six hours to corral all the cats, Gates said. Until all of them were captured, he said, animal control officers didn’t know how many were inside the house. Initially, Simonitz estimated the total at 50, but by the end of the night, that number nearly doubled.
Once the cats were all back at the shelter in Statesville – a process that took two trips – Animal Services veterinarian Dr. Kimberly Ball, began assessing them for diseases such as ringworm and upper respiratory infections and giving them a round of vaccinations (if they could be handled), Gates said.
The cats showing any signs of illness were separated, as were the feral cats. The entire group seized from the house were separated from other cats at the shelter to prevent the spread of any diseases, he said.
“We don’t want to have an epidemic,” he said.
The cats were to undergo health checks Thursday and the process of assessing behavior will begin.
Gates said the owner agreed to surrender the cats, which means that once the health of the animals has been determined, animal services will reach out to rescue groups. While none of these cats will be available for adoption anytime soon, Gates said, there are plenty of cats at the shelter that are ready to be adopted.
Gates said the owner will likely face animal cruelty charges.
(Statesville.com - March 4, 2016)
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