NORWALK, Conn. Eleven cats who had been taken in by a Norwalk homeless woman were found suffering within the confines of her roach-infested van, Norwalk Police say. Most of the animals were euthanized and the woman was arrested.
Kathleen Kennedy, 66, was charged with 10 counts of cruelty to animals. Bond on each charge was $500.
Police found the cats while investigating a suspicious vehicle complaint at 24 Rowan St. in East Norwalk around 11 a.m., Thursday. The van smelled of urine and feces, police say.
"When I arrived to the scene there was an elderly lady in the passenger seat and I was asking her questions," said Animal Control Officer Rick Duddie. "I looked and there were all these creatures roaming around and it wasn't too good."
When Kennedy stepped out of the vehicle, roaches came out with her, Duddie said. "It was a horror show, really," he said. "It wasn't a healthy situation, the cats were in very bad shape."
It turned out there were 11 cats but no food or water, Duddie said. Two cats had large cysts from animal bites and some had upper respiratory problems. Duddie estimated that some of the cages hadn't been cleaned in at least two weeks. A thermometer said temperature inside the van was 100 degrees.
The Norwalk Fire Department opened the doors of the van. Ten of the animals were euthanized. None of them had gotten standard vaccinations.
"The animals were very lethargic," he said. "We did the most humane thing we could do for them, which was put them to sleep."
A veterinary technician is trying to save the remaining cat, a 4-month-old kitten.
"This is what they call hoarding," Duddie said. "A person thinks they're doing something right by picking up animal, they get overwhelmed. They don't have money to feed them or stuff like that. But under state law it's cruelty to animals."
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