NEED TO KNOW
40 cats were rescued from a California studio after their elderly owner was hospitalized
Rescues were conducted over several weeks; some cats required medical treatment
The San Diego Humane Society is seeking homes for remaining cats amid shelter overcrowding
Forty cats were rescued from a San Diego apartment after authorities discovered one of the elderly owners was hospitalized and unable to care for them.
According to reports from local outlet KUSI, the rescue began back in August when a concerned neighbor reported a strong odor and multiple cats coming from a neighboring unit. Humane Law Enforcement officers from the San Diego Humane Society worked with building management and the owner’s family to safely enter the apartment and remove the cats over the course of several weeks.
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Stock image of cats
The rescues were conducted in stages: 15 cats on Sept. 17, 11 cats on Sept. 24 and the remaining 14 cats on Oct. 1. Many of the animals were found living in cramped conditions and some required medical attention for upper respiratory infections.
PEOPLE reached out to the San Diego Humane Society, who did not respond immediately for comment.
According to the Humane Society, as reported by the outlet, the elderly owners may have become overwhelmed when the cats continued breeding inside the small studio. None of the cats had been spayed or neutered.
“I’m not sure if that person is still in the hospital, but when we did make contact [with the other tenant of the apartment], we were notified one of the owners was in the hospital,” said Saegeant Sinai Esperiu of the San Diego Humane Society Law Enforcement. “The other owner was well aware of the situation and maybe realized they were not able to care for these 40 cats and especially in that small of an apartment.”
Sixteen cats have been adopted into new homes, while eight are receiving treatment and expected to be available for a foster or forever home soon. The Humane Society is reportedly seeking homes for the remaining cats, so the state’s shelters have been chronically overcrowded for over three years.
Thompson informed the outlet that the surge of large-scale rescues is a reflection of a growing issue stemming from pets adopted during the coronavirus pandemic shutdown, which mostly led to many owned but not spayed or neutered pets.
“This is an issue that’s been going on for three years,” she explained. “If people are having trouble caring for their pets, we can help, including offering services for free to those facing financial challenges.”
The Humane Society reminds pet owners that help is available for those feeling overwhelmed and encourages community members to reach out before situations become unmanageable.
Read the original article on People