182 Cats Rescued From Single Property So Full Of Refuse And Feces It Was Barely Breathable

Jun 15, 2019 by apost team

When a person has good intentions but is not able to execute their plans, it can be difficult to watch them fail. This is especially true when animals are involved.

Most hoarders did not set out to become one. The pressures of life overwhelmed them at some point and their desire to care for pets and critters can easily grow past their ability to do so.

It is not uncommon to see homes inhabited by hoarders littered with animal feces and urine. It is also the norm to find animals who are not in the best condition. And in some extreme cases, dead animals have been found in the home of hoarders.

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Iowa's Animal Rescue League recently used Facebook to inform the public of the worst caseworkers at the Rescue League have ever seen. The conditions were terrible and the number of animals affected is unbelievable.

“This is by far the worst hoarding case ARL Iowa has seen in more than 10 years. It’s absolutely horrendous. I don’t even have the words to describe how bad this is.” said Tom Colvin, CEO at the Rescue League. “We were already over capacity prior to this rescue with more than 1,100 cats in our care, so we are going to need a lot of help from the public with this one.”
 

The residence in question is located in Central Iowa. It took workers at the rescue a full day to remove the animals that were inside the home.

Speaking to Iowa 5 Local News, Colvin says there were multiple buildings on the property with cats inside. So far, more than 180 cats have been rescued from the location, almost as many the ones who were found dead.

Colvin said the air quality inside the home was 'poisonous.' He said dozens of cats sought the oxygen they needed to survive by pressing themselves against the windows of the home. The air quality made it necessary for rescue workers to wear protective suits and respirators. And despite the precautions, they were only allowed inside the home in 30-minute intervals.

“Dozens of cats were pressed up against open windows, trying to get fresh air. Air quality levels inside the house are so toxic that ARL rescuers are required to wear respirators and protective suits and are only allowed in the house for 30 minutes at a time." The ARL's post read.

There were feces two to three feet high in some places and dead cats were stuffed in the freezer and refrigerator.

KSFY reported that the 65-year-old owner of the home Dennis Carlson has been charged with five counts of animal neglect and three counts of failure to dispose of dead animals.

The rescue is now focusing on finding homes for the rescued felines and are urging the public to help by donating to the rescue, volunteering or purchasing items posted to their Amazon wishlist. 

Have you ever heard of such an extreme case of hoarding? Let us know in the comments below - and make sure you pass this along to your friends and family.