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Maura Shuttleworth, 40, of Perkiomenville, was accused of starving the four kittens and failing to provide veterinary care, resulting in one kitten losing an eye due to infection, the affidavit states.
Shuttleworth was charged on Monday, Oct. 28, court documents state. She owns the Feline Frenzy located at 107 South Main Street in North Wales, according to the affidavit.
The North Wales Police Department received a complaint regarding a dead cat found in the bathroom at Feline Frenzy on Friday, Aug. 16, the affidavit states.
A North Wales police officer and a Humane Society police officer investigated the complaint, but did not find a dead cat on the premises of Shuttleworth's cat rescue, according to the affidavit. Instead, they found a young tabby and three other kittens showing signs of starvation, dehydration, and medical neglect.
One of the kittens had been scheduled for a vet visit on the next day, but the officers insisted that care was needed immediately, the affidavit states.
The officers took the kittens to a veterinarian who confirmed their condition was due to starvation and severe neglect, according to the affidavit.
One kitten had an infection in its left eye that was so bad the eye had to be removed, the affidavit states. That kitten had already been seen by the veterinarian on Friday, Aug. 2. Medication for the kitten was given to Shuttleworth at that time, but the veterinarian said the instructions she gave for treatment weren't followed.
Shuttleworth had been in possession of the kitten with the eye infection since Sunday, July 28 and the others since at least Wednesday, Aug. 14, the affidavit states.
All of the kittens were signed over to the veterinarian on Monday, Sept. 9, according to the affidavit. The vet reported to police that the kittens were "doing much better and gaining weight and ultimately doing well."
She was charged with:
- Misdemeanor Neglect of Animals - Vet Care (four counts).
- Misdemeanor Neglect of Animals - Sustenance/Water (four counts).
- Summary Neglect of Animals - Vet Care (four counts).
- Summary Neglect of Animals - Sustenance/Water (four counts).
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 12, according to court documents.
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