A Louisiana woman is facing dozens of animal cruelty charges after 17 cats were found dead and 20 others rescued in severe distress at a local business. The discovery was made amid dangerously hot conditions, with no access to food or water for the animals.
Madison Rebecca Colello, 29, surrendered on Thursday morning at the Livingston parish detention centre in Walker, Louisiana. She faces 17 felony counts of aggravated animal cruelty related to the dead cats, and 37 misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty.
Walker police officers made the discovery on 12 September after responding to a report of suspected animal cruelty. Officers found an open door at a business named Waffles Way Home and encountered temperatures inside approaching 100F (37.8C). Dozens of cats and kittens were confined without food or water, according to police.
Seventeen animals were found dead, while the remaining 20 were rescued in severe distress. Walker police chief David Addison stated that the department intends to send a clear message that such abuse will not be tolerated. Authorities noted that while the area was hygienically clean, the extreme heat and lack of veterinary care had taken a serious toll.
Emergency help for the surviving animals was provided by Walker’s animal control agency, representatives from the animal shelter of Denham Springs, and volunteers from the nonprofit Rescue, Rehome & Repeat. Additionally, the Humane Society of Louisiana director, Jeff Dorson, stated that Rescue Alliance of Gonzales took in 12 sick cats Colello allegedly kept in her garage, which were suffering from upper respiratory infections and possible ringworm.