At least 140 cats, most sick and deceased, removed Lake Worth home

By Ana M. Valdes

LAKE WORTH —

Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control officers removed at least 140 cats — most of them sick and some deceased — from a woman’s home Wednesday morning, in what investigators are calling one of the largest cases of animal hoarding the county has recently seen.

The cats were removed from Diane Carle’s home in the 1700 block of 12th Avenue South, where officials said they found adult cats and kittens in an “overwhelmingly deplorable situation.” It was the second time officials had visited the home in about a year in response to a complaint of cat hoarding. Carle, 64, will likely face animal cruelty charges, officials said.

Some of the dead were kittens. Most of the cats found alive are so sick they will be euthanized, said Dianne Sauve, director of Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control. Fewer than 10 cats in the first group of 40 brought to the shelter Wednesday were saved, she said..."  More

RSPCA SEIZE 132 ANIMALS IN SUBURBAN PERTH

RSPCA inspectors seized 132 animals from a suburban Perth property yesterday.

Inspectors had been told there were a large number of animals living in unhygienic conditions.

All of the animals, including cats, rabbits and birds, are in RSPCA care and many require veterinary attention.

The big influx of animals has forced the RSPCA's Malaga headquarters to temporarily suspend its adoption and retail services.

"This appears to be a sad and unfortunate situation. I want to pay tribute to the work of RSPCA Inspectors," RSPCA CEO David van Ooran said.

"Our Inspectors worked all day and through the night to make sure the 132 animals that were located at the property were safe in RSPCA care.

"Our shelter staff also worked through the night to look after the animals and make them comfortable.

"I would like to thank our supporters for their patience and understanding. RSPCA has been overwhelmed with offers of help from the public and we are extremely grateful..." More

Over 100 dogs rescued from puppy mill, woman arrested

On December 17, 2012, the Henderson County Sheriff's Office, aided by the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals of Texas, Henderson County Adult Probation and the Henderson County Attorney's Office, executed a search warrant and animal seizure order at 2353 Rose Pointe in the Rose Pointe Addition near Athens.

This action is the result of an ongoing investigation which begin in October 2011. The Sheriff's Office contacted the SPCA of Texas in an effort to support the investigation. Information sharing and joint efforts between the Henderson County Attorney's Office, Adult Probation Office, Sheriff's Office and SPCA Investigators led to Animal Control Deputy John Haverly obtaining a search warrant and animal seizure order.

The warrant was executed at around 9:00 a.m. on Monday. The SPCA played an instrumental role in the execution of the order. They coordinated with the sheriff's office and provided assistance in the way of investigators, animal health care professionals and man power. Investigators seized 106 cruelly treated dogs - 83 live dogs, 22 live puppies and one deceased dog. The bodies of seven deceased dogs were also found on the property.

The dogs were cruelly confined, were not receiving adequate care and were forced to live in their own filth inside a feces-filled, urine-soaked home on the property. Most of the dogs are suffering from eye discharge, flea infestation, long nails, severely matted fur and skin conditions. Approximately 60 of the dogs were confined to crates and some crates included up to seven dogs. The stench of ammonia was so intense that investigators wore personal protective equipment, including breathing apparatuses insides the home. The SPCA of Texas measured the ammonia level in the residence to be 67 parts per million. As a point of reference, any ammonia level over 20 ppm or long term exposure over 12 ppm can cause health problems in humans..."  More

20,000 Rodents and Reptiles Seized During Animal Neglect Investigation

Nearly 20,000 rodents and reptiles have been found at a Southern California breeding facility targeted in an animal neglect investigation.
 
City inspectors were sent to the 6,100-square-foot Global Captive Breeders facility in Lake Elsinore last week because of cruelty complaints filed by an animal rights group.
 
City Manager Grant Yates says code enforcement officers found decaying animal carcasses and animals near death in their enclosures.
 
The Riverside Press-Enterprise (http://bit.ly/TtnSbl) says more than 18,400 rodents and about 600 reptiles, mostly snakes, had been counted by Monday.

The rodents were being raised to feed the reptiles.
 
The Global Captive Breeders facility telephone is disconnected..."  More

Glenview Couple Charged With Child Endangerment, Animal Hoarding

By TOM ROBB

A Glenview couple is set to appear in Cook County criminal court today (Friday) to answer charges of endangering the life of a child and companion animal hoarding.

Scott Corneliuson, 40, and Jennifer Corneliuson, 43, both of 3317 Lakewood Ct., Glenview, were taken into custody at the Glenview police station and charged Thursday before appearing at a hearing where a judge set bond at $25,000 ($2,500 cash) for each, Glenview police said.

Glenview police and DCFS officials reportedly found 35 dogs in the home as well as urine, feces and damage caused by dogs in an inspection of the Lakewood Court home last week that led to yesterday’s charges being filed, police said.

Court records obtained by the Journal said three children also lived in the home. Media reports say those children were between the ages of 3 and 5. Those children were placed with family members and the dogs are being relocated as part of a DCFS reaction plan.

Glenview and officers and DCFS officials were reportedly responding to a report of neglect.

Court records said dogs living in the house, “defecated and urinated throughout the interior of the home to include the children's beds and clothes” and said the parents were “unable to manage the dog excrement and waste (in the home).”..." More

More than 100 animals seized from two area homes

More than 100 pets have been recovered from just two area homes over the past few days. And Nevada Humane Society workers say they are still trapping even more at the undisclosed locations near Fallon and Silver Springs.

Crews say the owners willingly turned over the animals because they couldn't care for them. The creatures range from cats and dogs to birds and farm animals - many of which were in bad shape. But workers say the animals seem to already be doing better..."  More

Jacksonville Humane Society has 12 dogs from hoarding case in need of care

The Jacksonville Humane Society has taken in 12 of 19 dogs rescued from a hoarding case investigated by the city's Animal Care and Protective Services.

The other seven dogs were placed with other rescue organizations, according to a release from JHS. The owner surrendered the animals to ACPS.

The 12 dogs that JHS took into its care include two Chihuahuas, two Yorkshire terriers, two poodles and six Maltese. None of these animals have been neutered/spayed, all need dental work and eight of them have heartworms.

"It will take at least two weeks and thousands of dollars of treatment before these dogs are ready for adoption," said Dr. Jennifer Broadhurst, JHS shelter medical director, in a release. "We hope we can find foster families to gives these poor little dogs love and attention while we provide them with the veterinary treatment they desperately need."..."  More

Animal Hoarder Mary Lou Petrucci Accused of Holding Ex-Boyfriend Captive

By Denise A Justin

Mary Lou Petrucci, 55, of Reading, Pennsylvania, was charged Friday with holding Harold Scheaffer, 72, in her home against his will. The home is in the 1500 block of Mineral Springs Road. Neighbors called it a "House of Horrors,” reports sfgate.com.

According to police, Scheaffer and Petrucci had been dating and he moved into the house in 2010. Court documents indicate the two broke up shortly after Scheaffer moved in.

Scheaffer said Petrucci lived on the second floor and he was held prisoner in one room on the first floor. Police allege that Petrucci locked Scheaffer in a room with access to a bathroom and nailed the windows shut.

Scheaffer told police on October 19, after his daughter had rescued him from the house, that Petrucci locked him in the room from July to September and fed him only once a day. He said he could not recall the exact dates, according to publicopiniononline.com.

On Friday, when authorities arrested Mary Lou Petrucci, they found animal feces throughout her house and also numerous domestic animals and wildlife--some running around freely and some in cages--and an estimated thousands of dollars in health-code violations.

Petrucci was arraigned before District Justice Michael Leonardziak on charges of false imprisonment and recklessly endangering another person. The judge said Petrucci still owes $12,000 in fines for other offenses. Police said Petrucci was fined in the past for hoarding dozens of animals and for health code violations.

DAUGHTER PAID RANSOM TO FREE HER FATHER

Scheaffer's daughter, Lynanne, said a two-month search for her father led her to Petrucci's home. “There were a lot of times I couldn't sleep,” Lynanne Schaeffer told WFMZ-TV. “Anxiety, stress, frustration, anger, pretty much everything.” “She's a monster, pretty much," said Scheaffer.

Petrucci allegedly had started dating another man after Schaeffer’s father moved in with her, stated Lynanne Schaeffer, and the man was living mostly in his car parked on the property.

Lynanne said she learned Sept. 13 that her father, who suffers from the early stages of dementia, was locked in the room. That's when she said she ran into Petrucci's new lover and asked him for help..."  More

Hoarding now recognized as true mental disorder

by Dana Rebik 

There is new hope for people whose homes become so cluttered they are hazardous.  The American Psychiatric Association is recognizing hoarding as a true mental disorder in its diagnostic manual being published in May.

We first met Steven Lindenau two and a half years ago after he was featured on the A&E show “Hoarders.”

“In the beginning I didn’t realize it too much because I was ignoring it.  When it started to become difficult to walk on the floor, that’s when it became an issue,” Lindenau said..."  More

Animals in Woodbourne seized in 'worst ever' abuse

By Victor Whitman

Fallsburg police and animal control officers removed numerous animals on Tuesday from a ramshackle trailer home in the Town of Fallsburg and charged an elderly woman and her son with animal cruelty.

Police executed a search warrant at 333 Rose Road outside Woodbourne, and found goats, rabbits, geese and two dogs living in "deplorable" conditions.

Virginia Wagner McCombs, 81, and Donald Wagner, 62, were charged with multiple misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty under the section of Agriculture and Markets law that refers to "overdriving, torturing and injuring" animals.

When authorities arrived in the morning, two cocker spaniels were tied by a rope to a pickup truck. The rabbits were in handmade chicken coops covered with feces. Goats were crowded into fenced enclosures on muddy ground. The property was strewn with detritus and hoarded items. Large rats were running around.

"This is the worst I have ever seen," said Joanne Gerow, Fallsburg's animal control officer.

Gerow said authorities seized two dogs, 14 goats, seven baby goats, 23 rabbits, four geese and four chickens. All the animals were taken to a rescue farm in Sullivan County. Gerow said the animals appeared to have been fed, but will be evaluated..."  More