Florida couple charged for ‘hoarding’ 700 cats

[joeybee12]

A Florida couple has been charged with 47 counts of animal cruelty after authorities seized nearly 700 cats from their Haven Acres Cat Sanctuary in June.

The Humane Society called it "the biggest case of cat hoarding," the group had ever seen, according to News4Jax.

In June, authorities seized more than 700 cats from the "sanctuary," after the county had warned Pennie and Steven Lefkowitz that they were only allowed to care for 100 cats. A hundred of the cats had to be euthanized because their diseases were so severe, according to local TV station WCJB. University of Florida veterinary students are spaying and neutering the remaining cats and hope to hold an adoption drive at the end of the month.


"These people started out well intentioned, but they were in way, way, way over their head," State Attorney Bill Cervone told The Gainesville Sun. "I am optimistic we will be able to resolve something with them that will address the mental health issues that I believe they have and prevent a recurrence."

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/florida-couple-charged-hoarding-700-cats-151839964.html

The 4th paragraph of what I've cut and pasted says it all..this isn't common, but I wouldn't call it arre...people see such a great need and try to do too much.

[Mz Pip]

1. I do volunteer work

for a local spay and neuter organization and I can see where it can really overwhelm a person if they let it. There are so many homeless and abandoned pets in addition to the ferals who reproduce at an alarming rate.

Most volunteers come in with the attitude that you do what you can and try not to get too emotionally involved. I get emails on a regular basis describing some crisis situation that I can do nothing about. It's frustrating to know that all I can do is hit the delete button.

[FarCenter]

2. There is a solution for this

Pentobarbital sodium and phenytoin.

[provis99]

7. don't you think executing the Lefkowitz's is a little extreme?

geez, at least they were trying to help.

[razorman]

3. "Hoarding" cats? Very selfish. Why not share them with the rest of us?

[emilyg]

8. You want some of mine (12)?

[soleft]

4. There was a woman on Hoarders the other night with dogs and cats

The poor animals were sick and dying, and the insane thing was after the animals were removed, Animal Control came back and told her she was allowed to keep 10 of them.

[Initech]

6. Did you see the one with the rat hoarders?

:scared:

[Dappleganger]

5. Just last week I read...

why do we not ever hear about the kitty who adopted 26 stray humans?

They know better. ;)