A Brooklyn Park woman was charged Wednesday after police found several cats and a dog in a “condemned” home, according to court records.

A July welfare check by Brooklyn Park police led to the seizure of 29 cats, a dog, and the discovery of 3 dead cats in a home covered in cat feces and urine. According to the criminal complaint, 68-year-old Ann Rickson was charged with six felony counts of overworking, mistreating or torturing animals.

Court documents show there have been multiple investigations into Rickson’s home, with concerns about hoarding cats dating back to 2001. According to the criminal complaint, all prior investigations involved questions about the home’s living conditions and the number of cats inside.

Investigation

On July 7, Brooklyn Park police got involved after a city employee shared information about a welfare check on the 6300 block of West Broadway. The city employee was inspecting after a resident complained about pet waste, animals and long grass.

In that inspection, the city employee saw a Rottweiler and two cats at the front door. Court documents show that Rickson was struggling to get the dog back into the house, and while assisting Rickson, the city employee saw about 10 cats in the entry.

On July 14, officers and an investigator from the Animal Humane Society went to talk to Rickson. Officers saw multiple cats around the property, ranging from kittens to adults. While outside the home, officers said they smelled a strong odor of feces and urine, along with a “musky mold smell.”

On July 22, officers executed a search warrant while wearing respirators and other protective gear. Even with respirators, officers said they were overwhelmed by the smell, according to the criminal complaint.

After all animals were recovered, three cats had their eyes removed by a veterinarian due to poor health from living in the home. According to the criminal complaint, ammonia levels inside the house were 25.4 parts per million.

Officers took Rickson to the hospital, and she remains out of custody.

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Each charge against her carries a penalty of up to two years in jail and a $5,000 fine.

For Related Stories: Brooklyn Park Police Department  Animals  Brooklyn Park  Criminal Charges