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HAZLET, N.J. -- A group that rescues Siberian huskies made a gruesome discovery while removing dogs from a home on Saturday: They stumbled upon a room full of dead cats.
At least 30 felines were found in various stages of decomposition, said Stuart Goldman, chief cruelty officer with the Monmouth County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
"Nobody had any clue there were cats in there," Goldman said.
Beverly Hart, 63, will face animal cruelty charges as a result of the discovery, Goldman said. Hart voluntarily went to Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank for evaluation, and the SPCA plans to go to court to prevent her from handling animals again.
"At this point, you don't want to beat her up," Goldman said. "We want to put an end to this and prevent it from happening again, and that's why you go to court on these matters."
He said some of Hart's huskies killed a dog and cat owned by neighbors. The woman, a known breeder of Siberian huskies, pleaded guilty in municipal court to failing to provide proper shelter for the dogs.
As part of the plea, Goldman said, the judge gave Hart two weeks to find homes for the animals. She was permitted to keep a maximum of four pets under the deal.
The Husky House of Bridgewater and Mapaw Husky rescue began removing dogs from the home Thursday, Goldman said. The dogs continued to be removed Saturday because rescuers found some 27 canines, at least 10 more than they thought lived in the house.
One rescuer checking the second floor for additional huskies found the cats and notified police.
Melanie Wang of the SPCA said she had never seen anything like the room where the cats were found.
"Upon opening the door, I've just never seen anything like it," Wang said. "Ankle deep, knee deep in places, cat feces in litter boxes, dead cats all over, some with their tails just, tails of cats just lying round. Filth, the stench, the hair, the rat feces all over."
Goldman said Sunday he did not know what killed the cats, but he was sure it was not the dogs.
Dogs of various ages were found inside the house, including puppies and three pregnant females. New homes are being sought for them.
The board of health is investigating living conditions at the home.
At least 30 felines were found in various stages of decomposition, said Stuart Goldman, chief cruelty officer with the Monmouth County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
"Nobody had any clue there were cats in there," Goldman said.
Beverly Hart, 63, will face animal cruelty charges as a result of the discovery, Goldman said. Hart voluntarily went to Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank for evaluation, and the SPCA plans to go to court to prevent her from handling animals again.
"At this point, you don't want to beat her up," Goldman said. "We want to put an end to this and prevent it from happening again, and that's why you go to court on these matters."
He said some of Hart's huskies killed a dog and cat owned by neighbors. The woman, a known breeder of Siberian huskies, pleaded guilty in municipal court to failing to provide proper shelter for the dogs.
As part of the plea, Goldman said, the judge gave Hart two weeks to find homes for the animals. She was permitted to keep a maximum of four pets under the deal.
The Husky House of Bridgewater and Mapaw Husky rescue began removing dogs from the home Thursday, Goldman said. The dogs continued to be removed Saturday because rescuers found some 27 canines, at least 10 more than they thought lived in the house.
One rescuer checking the second floor for additional huskies found the cats and notified police.
Melanie Wang of the SPCA said she had never seen anything like the room where the cats were found.
"Upon opening the door, I've just never seen anything like it," Wang said. "Ankle deep, knee deep in places, cat feces in litter boxes, dead cats all over, some with their tails just, tails of cats just lying round. Filth, the stench, the hair, the rat feces all over."
Goldman said Sunday he did not know what killed the cats, but he was sure it was not the dogs.
Dogs of various ages were found inside the house, including puppies and three pregnant females. New homes are being sought for them.
The board of health is investigating living conditions at the home.
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