DOVER, Del.- More than 180 cats and a dog last week were seized from a residence in the Camden area by state animal control officers acting on a tip about possible animal cruelty.
The state's Office of Animal Welfare said on Facebook that officers also discovered deceased cat while executing a search warrant after being warned about cats living in deplorable conditions. The animals were removed from property with the help of staff from the Brandywine Valley SPCA.
Delaware Division of Public Health spokesman Sean Dooley said criminal charges may filed against someone in connection to the investigation but on Monday did not name that person.
"While DAS is pursuing charges, we do not have any additional updates," he said, noting that the agency would not be doing interviews.
Many of the cats and the dog seized from the property were located on Monday at the Brandywine Valley SPCA's New Castle facility, where some of the cats were recovering from respiratory issues.
Walt Fenstermacher with the BCSPCA said the organization was evaluating cats for possible adoption and noted that some people had already come forward saying they believed some of the felines belonged to them.
"We're backtracking with individuals who believe that one of the cats might be theirs and then we're and hopefully we're able to reunite them," he said.
A cat seized by the State of Delaware.
Fenstermacher said it's unclear why so many cats were located at the property but said there may have been a cat sanctuary located at the property.
"It was certainly a situation where that individual was obviously overwhelmed---182 cats to be cared for by one person is a daunting task and it's nearly impossible so that's why the Office of Animal Welfare was called in," he said.
A cat seized by the State of Delaware.
A cat seized by the State of Delaware.
