Wisconsin: Sue Sheire, 56, arrested for animal cruelty after dead and dying cats and kittens found in her vehicle

WISCONSIN -- A 56-year-old Richland Center woman was arrested for animal cruelty after several ill kittens — and one deceased kitten — were found Monday in her vehicle in Viroqua.

Sue Sheire was taken to the Vernon County Jail and is expected to face cruelty to animals charges, according to the Viroqua Police Department.

Police received a complaint and investigated a vehicle parked in the 200 block of South Rock Avenue. Witnesses told officers that kittens were located in a van inside a plastic tote.

When police officers opened the van, two adult cats sprang from the vehicle and ran away. Inside the van, in a covered tote, were 11 kittens. One of the kittens was deceased and “they all were covered with fleas and appeared to have had worms,” according police.

The tote’s plastic cover appeared to have been pierced by a knife to make air holes.

Two of the remaining kittens have since died. The remaining eight kittens are under veterinary care and are expected to survive. The two adult cats that fled the vehicle have not been found.

Viroqua Police Chief Daron Jefson said in his 30 years on the job he hasn’t come across a situation where so many animals were in such poor health.

(LaCrosse Tribune - June 28, 2016)