PSPCA: hoarding case worst it has seen

Katherine Scott

The PSPCA seized a collection of animals in one of the worst cases of hoarding officials have ever seen.

The place was full of feces, urine, parasites, and a whole lot of animals, dead and alive, according to authorities.

As Licenses and Inspections condemned the Olney home as unfit for human habitation the Pennsylvania SPCA spent over six hours removing animals.

This is one of the worst houses I've been in when you take into account the dead cats. It's ridiculous," said George Bengal of the PSPCA.

Fifty dead animals, investigators say including cats, dogs, a pelican and even a fox retrieved from the basement freezer. As for live animals authorities carted out approximately 56 cats, 20 chinchillas, seven dogs, and 18 pigeons inside and around the backyard.

"The dogs apparently didn't like the pigeons in the yard they would chew them, capture them, and she would put them in a cage."

Homeowner Olga Fedorov invited only Action News inside, explaining that the home is under construction, arguing that her pets are her top priority..." More & video

Courtney Cotter & Kevin Pierce - New York

Feb 12, 2010: Microchips help SPCA find 100 animals in trailer

Tiny microchips played a big part in the recent animal cruelty investigation by the SPCA of Tompkins County where 100 animals were seized from a trailer near Ithaca.

Six of those pets had microchips implanted, so once investigators heard the beep they contacted the original owners.

“Not only in two of these cases did it reunite two animals back to their starting point but it also gave us some background as to how these defendants got these animals,” said Tompkins County SPCA Director Abigail Smith

Those tiny clues can go a long way in such a large investigation..." More

Feb 11, 2010: CHARGES FILED IN BROOKTONDALE SEIZURE

2 people are arrested for animal abuse after hoarding 100 animals in their one bedroom mobile home.

Courtney Cotter and Kevin Pierce, both of 18 Creamery Road in Brooktondale, were charged Wednesday in Town of Caroline Court.

They are facing 39 counts of overdriving, torturing and injuring animals.

And 39 additional counts of failure to provide proper sustenance, food, and water.

The Tompkins County SPCA seized the dogs, cats, guinea pigs, rats and chinchillas on January 27th, after concerned citizens led them to the trailer.

Rescuing the animals has cost the Tompkins County SPCA more than $30,000.

The SPCA is asking for financial donations to help cover the increase medical and staffing expenses.

So far, seven cats, one rat, eleven dogs and three chinchillas have been adopted.

Feb 3, 2010: SPCA SEIZES 100 PETS

"...After a group of concerned citizens led humane investigators to a mobile home in Brooktondale.

"The conditions inside were obviously pretty far from ideal there were some sanitary concerns, there were also concerned for animals not having access to food and water," said SPCA Humane Investigator Cate Walker.

That's where these cocker spaniels, and 98 other pets were found, in a crowded, one-bedroom trailer.

Including dogs, cats, guinea pigs, chinchillas, rats and several other dead animals.

The owner was a self-proclaimed animal rescuer...." More

	Tompkins County SPCA Adoption: 2-4-10
	Tompkins County SPCA seizes animals: 2-3-10

100 ANIMALS SEIZED FROM HOME

The Tompkins County SPCA Humane Investigators removed 100 animals from a residence in Brooktondale.

Investigators found animals in unsanitary conditions in the overcrowded one bedroom home.

The SPCA says the individual in the home self-identified as an animal rescuer. 100 animals including dogs, cats, rats, guinea pigs and chinchillas were taken into custody by the SPCA, including several animals found deceased on the property.

As of today, 59 animals have been signed over to the SPCA and are being made available for adoption as medical and behavioral health is established.

The remaining animals are being held as the SPCA’s investigation continues..." More

Couple fined $700 after exotic animals seized from B.C. farm

A B.C. couple has been fined $700 and put on two years' probation after SPCA officers seized 87 animals from their farm, including a lynx, three parrots, 10 turtles, an alpaca and an assortment of 70 rabbits, hedgehogs, chinchillas, gerbils and mice.

Michelle Kuberski and Kenneth Bunker pleaded guilty to charges of animal cruelty and were sentenced last week in a Dawson Creek court, according to a statement released Monday morning by the B.C. SPCA.

The court instructed the couple to provide the SPCA with a list of all the remaining animals on their property and to grant the organization access to inspect the animals with only 24 hours' notice.

The SPCA was first called to the property in northeastern B.C. after receiving a complaint of animal neglect and hoarding..." More

Distressed animals removed from nonprofit rescue shelter in Hernando County

By Logan Neill

BROOKSVILLE — Hernando County animal control officers removed a dozen distressed animals Monday from a Brooksville home that for the three years has served as a nonprofit animal rescue shelter.

Animal Services supervisor Patrick Pace said officers responding to a complaint of unsanitary conditions at 172 Lark Ave. arrived to find the decaying carcasses of two guinea pigs, a ferret and a chinchilla inside the residence.

Pace said the owners of the animals, Douglas Holt, 46, and Lorri Schiller, 39, agreed to give Animal Services custody of the rest of their animals, including nine dogs, two chinchillas and a squirrel.

The state Department of Corporations Web site lists Holt and Schiller as registered agents for the nonprofit corporation Disaster Animal Rescue/Response Team of Florida and Hoofs, Paws and Claws, Inc. Attempts to reach Holt and Schiller Tuesday were unsuccessful.

Pace, who was among three responding officers, described the scene inside the home as "pretty bad." In addition to the dead animals, the home was littered with feces and garbage, and had an odor so strong that officers had to use ventilator suits, masks and gloves..." More

Officials remove 113 animals from property

By Bill Hankins

COOPER — Delta County Sheriff’s Department and the SPCA of Texas seized 101 dogs, seven donkeys, four Chinchillas and one Cockatiel on Monday from a property in Delta County in what the SPCA said is a case of cruelty to animals.

The 101 dogs were cruelly confined in various pens, trailers and a shed on the property, all of which the SPCA said are covered in feces and urine.

A custody hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 1 in the Delta County Courthouse, 200 W. Dallas St., Cooper.

Justice of the Peace Bud Skinner will preside.

SPCA said the dogs kept in the pens were forced to live in sewage, a mixture of mud, urine and feces. The trailers and shed are covered in feces and urine and both trailers are filled with furniture, trash and other debris.

The stench of ammonia in the shed was called “overpowering.”

“The sub-floors of the trailers were soft and spongy because they were so soaked with urine,” said Courtney Stevens, chief investigator for the SPCA of Texas. “Some dogs were running loose in rooms, others were confined in small closets.”..." More

Animals Rescued from Filthy Homes

Nearly 12 dozen animals have be seized from two houses in Clinton County.

Police said the animals belonged to one person who was living in filthy conditions. All of the rescued animals are being checked out by veterinarians.

Police said they arrived at the two houses on Park Avenue in Dunstable Township, near Woolrich, late Monday night.

Investigators said they found 150 animals, including cats, dogs, ferrets, chinchillas and a variety of birds and reptiles.

Police said the animals were kept in two different properties located next to each other. They were taken to the Clinton County SPCA where they are staying until the investigation is completed.

The owner has not been charged with anything but police said this an ongoing investigation.

The Clinton County SPCA is asking for donations of food to help feed the animals, as well as bedding, small bottles of water, dry cat food and litter so they can care for the animals..." More & video