Police arrested three Connecticut adults final week and charged every of them with greater than 100 counts of animal cruelty after they have been discovered hoarding what authorities estimate have been greater than 200 cats.
Authorities arrested James Thomen Sr., 61; Laura Thomen, 53; and Marissa O’Brien, 30, on Oct. 19, charging every with 106 counts of animal cruelty and two counts of danger of harm to a minor, in accordance with an announcement from the Winchester Police Division.
One other warrant is pending for a fourth grownup, police stated.
The arrests come 4 months after police discovered the cats on the household’s Winsted house after receiving an nameless name a couple of sick cat in June.
Officers discovered what they imagine have been greater than 200 cats on the scene, together with “horrible circumstances” that led them to contact the state Division of Kids and Households to take away a 6-year-old woman and 10-year-old boy residing in the home and place them with kinfolk, in accordance with police.
“You couldn’t even see the ground — it was filled with cats,” Chief William Fitzgerald Jr. advised NBC Information.
Most of the cats have been sick and had eye infections, Fitzgerald stated. “That is why these [animal cruelty] costs have been there,” he added.
A dozen cats needed to be taken for emergency vet care, NBC Connecticut reported on the time, including that the majority additionally had fleas. Two canines and a ferret have been additionally faraway from the house, in accordance with the outlet.
By way of a subsequent investigation, authorities proved the household owned a minimum of 106 of the cats, utilizing information from veterinarians and statements from the household, Fitzgerald stated.
The household started accumulating the cats as a result of Laura Thomen wished to carry them in from the chilly and feed them, Fitzgerald stated.
“It in all probability began out as a good suggestion — humanitarian kind of factor — nevertheless it clearly obtained out of hand,” he stated.
The cats have since been distributed to shelters all through the state, and a few have been adopted, in accordance with Fitzgerald. The home the place they have been discovered has since been condemned, NBC Connecticut reported.
Of the time that handed between police’s arrival on the house on June 13 and final week’s arrest, Fitzgerald stated authorities first had to make sure the security of the youngsters earlier than then eradicating the cats from the house and starting their investigation.
“It took time — it was a really sophisticated case,” he stated.
The trio’s arraignment is ready for Nov. 1.
