PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa. (EYT) – It wasn’t a pretty scene on Wednesday at a Pine Street residence in Punxsutawney as Jefferson County Humane Officer Debbie McAndrew worked to remove more than three dozen cats and kittens.
(Photo courtesy Debbie McAndrew)
McAndrew and volunteers from Willow Run Animal Sanctuary took 27 adult cats and 14 kittens from the home belonging to Elizabeth Cowan where she lived with her son. Jeff.
Punxsutawney Police Chief Matt Conrad served the search warrant in assistance of McAndrew.
“In January, I received a complaint about cats living in unclean living conditions,” McAndrew told exploreJeffersonpa.com.
“When I checked it, I could see through the front window that the cats were living in filth.”
McAndrew posted a notice at the home three times, offering to help the homeowner clean up, so she could keep her animals. After having no success, she said she had no choice but to get a warrant for the Pine Street home.
McAndrew said she plans to file 41 summary counts for animals living in unclean conditions.
The cats and kittens were all taken to the Animal Hospital in Punxsutawney where Dr. Emily Rapp would examine and treat them before letting them go to the Willow Run Animal Sanctuary, located near Brookville.
“Depending on the vet’s exams, there may be more charges for not providing vet care,” McAndrews said. “The stench inside the home was beyond belief. There was human waste inside a non-working commode and on the floor. There was animal feces in several places and only two litter boxes, and they were full.”
McAndrew said it wasn’t the first time that several animals were removed from the home.
“I wasn’t the humane officer at the time, but seven years ago, there were 89 cats and one dog removed from the home in a similar situation.”
“It’s obviously a hoarding situation, but it’s still hard to understand.”
McAndrew said there were even more cats outside. She wasn’t sure what to do, but there may be live traps set to catch them.
She said some of the cats were already taken to Willow Run. They are not ready to be adopted yet.
According to court records, no charges have been filed yet.
A page has been set up to help raise money to care for the cats at www.youcaring.com/willowrunanimalsanctuary-1139189.
Also, go to www.facebook.com/Willow-Run-Sanctuary-Adoptions-317525374958040/.
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