Mark Yaskoweak was arrested by Scranton police after a search warrant was served Monday at his property along Meadow Avenue in Scranton.
On Tuesday, Newswatch 16 found crews back at the scene continuing to collect evidence in a case that police say involves more than 50 animals.
Officers with the city animal control and the Scranton Police Department suited up in protective gear as day two of an investigation into allegations of severe animal abuse and cruelty against Yaskoweak continued.
According to police paperwork, the 47-year-old was taken into custody on Monday. While there, officers saw animal feces coating the main floor of the condemned home and plastic bins containing the dead bodies of more than 40 cats.
As search efforts continued, investigators say they removed somewhere between 10 and 15 living cats.
Many were taken to Griffin Pond Animal Shelter near Clarks Summit.
The staff there says it’s one of the worst hoarding cases they’ve seen in nearly a decade.
“And we already had emaciated, you know, animals here that we’re working on, so that, money-wise, that takes away from these cats that just came in or takes away from those cats that just came in a couple of weeks ago. But it also takes staff away from, you know, not being able to do one-on-one with the cats that came in a couple of weeks ago. Now they’ve got to focus on the cats that came in yesterday. Before COVID-19 happened, we saw maybe one or two hoarding cases a year. Now you’re seeing it five or six times, you know, within a year,” said Sherry Crolly, Griffin Pond Animal Shelter.
Officials with Griffin Pond are asking for food donations, pellet litter, and volunteers over the age of 18 to help deal with the influx of animals.
Mark Yaskoweak is currently charged with multiple counts of neglect of animals and several counts of felony aggravated cruelty to animals.
Authorities say the investigation is ongoing and more charges are expected.