Knowing that 45 cats out of a total of 63 cats removed from the home were euthanised due to bad health, is this one of the worst cases of cat hoarding that we have read about? You could probably say yes if you also knew that this Newport man faces 41 charges (yes, forty-one!) under animal cruelty and other laws. I have never read about a person being charged so comprehensively.
This cat hoarder has a history. His name is Raymond Veditz. He is due in court on July 27. Previously, in 2011, animal control officers took 99 cats from this man’s home. He cooperated. There were no charges.
In April of the same year (I believe) animal control went back to the home because of reports of more cats living in unsanitary conditions. Forty-seven cats were removed from the home at that time, 6 of which were dead.
It is reported that on the floor of the house there was a 5 inch deep crust of faeces. Two dead cats were left in the house because they could not be removed as they were “squished into the floor”. Sorry about that.
A neighbour across the road could smell the faeces and urine emanating from this man’s house.
When they went in, this time, they entered the house wearing full disposable suits and respirators. As mentioned 63 cats were removed of which 45 had to be euthanised due to bad health.
On June 15 the house was condemned.
Source: WAVY-TV
It’s always sad.
But, criminalizing won’t help.
I can’t muster up mad; only sympathy.
In our country, there are so many cats and so many people who don’t care.
Every street or drive in America have homeless cats roaming.
It’s hard.
If just one person would pick one off the streets and take home, it would be awesome.
How many visitors here have opened their car doors and taken one in?
That’s a loaded comment. The trouble with stray cats is they are often unvaccinated and may be harboring a disease that could have a health impact on resident cats in your home.
Pick up a stray cat and take it to the vet. I’d advise paying for at least 2 weeks of boarding.
Not at all, ME.
It takes less than 6 hours to neuter, vaccinate, and test for feline maladies. No boarding required.
We do it all the time.
You must be referring to high end vets that are $$$ hungry.
The most common issues is the URI and possible secondary infection.
And we have a high end vet who is anything but money hungry.
I’m torn about hoarders. Should they be criminalized or treated?
I don’t know anyone who has been “rehabilitated” by incarceration.
And, I’m not sure what sort of treatment would help.
But, I think I have a sort of an understanding of what may develop a hoarder.
They are well meaning people with sloppy boundaries.
It’s so hard for me when people come and tell me that they can no longer care for their beloved cat, that the cat person has died, or they have a litter that wasn’t intended. But, I have to decline (most often in tears) and with, “Please, please don’t show me. I can’t.”
My belief is that hoarders will benefit from therapy that guides them to be able to say, “No”.
There needs to be stricter laws and the need to be enforced!!!
Considering NY couldn’t find it in them to ban declawing I see little hope of massive reform.
There are multiple layers of problems.
People are loath to call AC on their neighbors or relatives.
AC and the courts give too many chances for the violator to fix the situation on their own.
Allowing the hoarder/abuser to surrender the animal/s instead of bringing criminal charges.
The sheer number of homeless animals. Dime a dozen. Shelters and rescues that in the end will adopt to just about anyone with the theory that just about any home is better than none.
I don’t think we’re going to see companion animals get the rights they deserve but I think it is reasonable to move to have them declared a special kind of personal property that gives more legal recourse. TPTB that stopped the declaw laws from being accepted will fight tooth and nail for any real rights. Find a platform that is reasonable.
Mental illness allows someone to collect and hoard and be oblivious to the conditions these cats were in. It is your duty to report it. Not feel sorry for the poor soul doing it.
Yes, agreed but I just don’t think the authorities care enough. “It’s only cats” is the mantra.
This cat hoarder has a history. His name is Raymond Veditz. He is due in court on July 27. Previously, in 2011, animal control officers took 99 cats from this man’s home. He cooperated. There were no charges.
And in the above lies the problem.
It’s easy to write. And can be comprehensive and leave no loophole. The above person may not be in possession or live in a home with any domestic animal regardless of it’s status, companion, ESA or Service Dog.
We need a pet offender registry with an easily accessed data base. No shelter, rescue , breeder or private citizen may transfer the care of a domestic pet without checking the data base.
Hoarding is a disease. Without supervision he will reoffend.
Most likely the cats euthanized had URI that would be easily treated; but, kill shelters could care less. They treat NOTHING. So, the kill rate for these cats is around 71%. Lower than any kill shelter norm which is around 83%.
Why any cat from a hoarding situation or any other would be brought to a kill shelter defies reason.