Some local News- 192 cats removed from waste-filled trailer home

[jw]

192 cats removed from waste-filled trailer home
Source: The Winchester Star

Stephens City — Frederick County officials have found 192 live cats and seven dead ones in a mobile home.
They said Wednesday that the home contains so much cat waste and cat hair that it will probably be demolished.
Linda L. McLaughlin, 58, owner of the cat-filled double-wide trailer in Forest Lake Estates, could face charges of animal cruelty and animal neglect, according to Sheriff’s Office Major Robert Eckman.
It’s not clear how long she kept the cats in her home.
Eckman said officers expected to find around 40 cats in the small home after receiving complaints about the conditions there.
The truth was five times worse.
He described the interior of the trailer as “horrendous” and said it was the worst such case he had ever seen.
“I’m told the bathtub was filled to the brim with [soiled] cat litter and cat hair,” Eckman said. “The ammonia smell was so strong, our officers could hardly walk in there.”
Deputies notified Frederick County Public Works about the home Tuesday, and Eckman said it will almost certainly be condemned.
“Every time you turned over a piece of furniture, 10 to 30 cats would come running out from under it,” he said.
Two officers were bitten by cats while removing them from the home and had to be treated for minor injuries.
McLaughlin was not present when her cats were confiscated. Eckman said she has been hospitalized in Prince William County since Friday.
He said the sheriff’s office was told about the cats by a health-care worker, and had received complaints from the Forest Lake Estates administration.
Eckman said the animals living in McLaughlin’s home also showed the effects of neglect and inhumane conditions.
Many were visibly afflicted with mites and had apparent eye infections, and numerous animals had patches of fur missing, he said.
The cats are being housed in the county’s Esther C. Boyd Animal Shelter, where they are being quarantined to prevent the potential spread of diseases to the other animals.
Officials at the animal shelter declined to comment on the eventual fate of the cats.
Eckman said any charges against McLaughlin would be determined by the commonwealth’s attorney.

[P@t_Mtl]

It's pretty sad how often you see stories like this (192 cats as to be a record however) Why people threat animals this way is beyond me.

[RustyK94]

We have laws here that are in the title deed to homes that forbid ppl from keeping large numbers of animals.

[DetroitSportsFan]

Originally Posted by RustyK94

We have laws here that are in the title deed to homes that forbid ppl from keeping large numbers of animals.

We do too. Doesn't stop people from doing it though.

[jbig31]

I honestly think its a form of sickness-kind of like hoarding is a sickness. I don't think that these people want to hurt the animals or want to live in that type of squalor but it happens. Very sad.

[Uniquely]

Originally Posted by jbig31

I honestly think its a form of sickness-kind of like hoarding is a sickness. I don't think that these people want to hurt the animals or want to live in that type of squalor but it happens. Very sad.

You're absolutely right... it is a form of mental illness. Sad for both the animals and the people involved.

[Rob71]

Originally Posted by robinandtami

You're absolutely right... it is a form of mental illness. Sad for both the animals and the people involved.

And I've seen this first hand. I was contracted to install cabinets and countertops in some low income apartments. One older(70+) lady had about 25 cats living with her in a very small 2 bedroom apartment. The carpet was covered in waste and hair and the smell almost knocked you over when you opened the door.They had to remove the floorcoverings and about three feet of sheetrock, then bleach and seal the concrete before I could get in to work. It's sad that no one cares enough to even notice what's going on and it's not usually caught until the person is hospitalised.

[Beast]

How the hell do you fit 192 cats into a mobile home? Jesus Wept.

She officially wins the award for "Crazy Cat Lady" though. God.

[jw]

Originally Posted by Beast

How the hell do you fit 192 cats into a mobile home? Jesus Wept.

She officially wins the award for "Crazy Cat Lady" though. God.

Im wondering if its a doublewide or singlewide trailer?

[mikejet]

1 year in prison per cat!

[Beast]

Originally Posted by jwbbud

Im wondering if its a doublewide or singlewide trailer?

Well, it says it was a doublewide. But still... it's a 192 cats.

I just can't even fathom the sight of it. It would be crazy.

[jw]

found a picture of the trailer, no very good but close enough
nvdaily.com

[Blu-Ron]

Gadzooks!
We have 2 cats and the ammonia smell after 3 days is unbearable. I can't even imagine this.

Was this cat lady a relative of Eg Gein? (joke)

[DutchBoy]

Originally Posted by jbig31

I honestly think its a form of sickness-kind of like hoarding is a sickness. I don't think that these people want to hurt the animals or want to live in that type of squalor but it happens. Very sad.

Originally Posted by robinandtami

You're absolutely right... it is a form of mental illness. Sad for both the animals and the people involved.

I tend to agree. I think that a lot of times they probably get lonely, and at first they feel badly for the animals and just keep taking them in. And keep taking them in, and it just goes on and on. Before you know it, it's out of control and there's nothing they can do.

It's sad, all around.

[jw]

Jason Fox, a nurse at Prince William Hospital, reported to Deputy Mark DeHaven, also an animal control officer, that McLaughlin had been served a temporary detention order in the county, according to the affidavit.

well she is being detained by a TDO, so I believe someone feels shes mentally ill

Officers sought the search warrant after the agency received two complaints about the welfare of cats residing in the double-wide trailer in the Forest Lake community park, according to Eckman. Moreland executed the search warrant and, with the help from the Esther Boyd Animal Shelter, seized the nearly 200 cats.

Its a double-wide, and shes the Queen

"Unfortunately a lot of these people get these animals and they get overwhelmed, but they love animals so much that they don't want to give them up," he said.

So true....

[jono_0101]

Originally Posted by jwbbud

well she is being detained by a TDO, so I believe someone feels shes mentally ill


Its a double-wide, and shes the Queen

So true....

i dont see how you could even walk in there with that many cats, let alone trying to step around all the waste and stuff, thats really sad though, but i think they are doing the right thing keeping her detained, shes obviously not right, its gotta be a kind of need for companionship or something, the more she has around her, the better she feels or something, the same thing i think that woman with the family with 18 kids on tv has

[MCT]

This woman should be euthanized.

[Rob71]

Originally Posted by MCT

This woman should be euthanized.

For being mentally ill? I would like to ask her family and neighbors a few questions though. How can no one notice 192 cats.

[MCT]

Mentally schmentally. 58 years on this planet and nobody ever took notice of her problem? Please. She knew what she was doing. Put her to sleep, along with all the other poor cats who were regrettably neglected.

[Rob71]

Originally Posted by MCT

Mentally schmentally. 58 years on this planet and nobody ever took notice of her problem? Please. She knew what she was doing. Put her to sleep, along with all the other poor cats who were regrettably neglected.

Are you a doctor? Must be one hell of one to be able to diagnose someone from an article.