71 cats living in filthy conditions at MN home rescued by Animal Humane Society
Animal Humane Society rescues 71 cats
The Animal Humane Society rescued 71 cats from a property in Sibley County where they were living in severely unsanitary conditions. Sarah Bhimani joins us to discuss the rescue effort, the care the cats are now receiving, and how large-scale animal rescues are carried out. (photo credit: Animal Humane Society / Supplied)
SIBLEY COUNTY, Minn. (FOX 9) - The Animal Humane Society says it has helped with the rescue of 71 cats living at a home in Sibley County, Minn. in horrific conditions.
Cats rescued from home
What we know:
The Animal Humane Society says they rescued 71 cats that were living in "severely unsanitary living conditions." Officials say the investigation started with a call from a concerned neighbor about the living conditions an abandoned property in question.
The rescue says "ammonia levels in the structure were dangerously high, the cats had no access to water, and the cats were living among piles of trash, carpets of feces, and crumbling walls."
The backstory:
Officials say law enforcement was not involved in the rescue and this isn't a criminal matter.
"So the property owner was doing their best," said Sarah Bhimani, Animal Humane Society. "They were trying to care for these cats, but as we see quite frequently in our work, people with good intentions quickly get overwhelmed. A few cats can quickly reproduce and become many, many cats. So we worked with the property owner, they very cooperative, they wanted the best for these cats and they signed over custody of the cats to us so that they could come to Animal Humane Society."
Dig deeper:
The rescued cats are now being brought back to the Animal Humane Society for treatment and rehabilitation.
Officials are set to brief media members on the steps forward for the rescued animals on Thursday.
"The cats, who range in age, are skinny and hungry and suffering from respiratory infections and open wounds," the rescue says. "AHS is the only organization in Minnesota with the resources and expertise needed to handle cases this large and severe."