That’s enough cats, lady
Sadly, stories about cat hoading are common. There’s the woman who had 28 cats in her home near St. Louis or the family with 43 cats in their Springfield, Mass., home. But news out of Indiana this week is mind-blowing.
Authorities seized 212 cats from a condemned home (shown here) in Leo-Cedarville, Ind. The woman had told authorities earlier she had about 40 cats. She was allowed to keep five animals. One escaped. The other 206 were taken to the pound and eventually put down. Most weren’t socialized. Most were ill and inbred. The woman said all the cats – yes, all of them – were descendent from one male and two females she had a few years ago. (This is another reason why animals should be spayed/neutered. The Oklahoma City area has lots of options, like the SPOT Clinic or SNAP.)
Animal hoarding is dangerous to both animals and people, according to the Humane Scoiety of the United States. For many, it’s a symptom of obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Hoarding typically has three tell-tale signs, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
- - The owner has so many animals he/she is unable to feed, clean or care for them.
- - The owner doesn’t respond when animals become ill or die.
- - The owner doesn’t respond when the crowding and living conditions become so bad it’s unhealthy for animals and people.
Report any suspected animal hoarding to the authorities immediately. In Oklahoma City, contact the Animal Welfare Division at 297-2255.
Reporting suspected animal cruelty is everyone’s responsibility, even if we may feel guilty reporting a friend, neighbor or relative. The deaths of these 206 cats in Indiana could have been prevented if someone would have spoken up.
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
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