FOX 4 WFTX - Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Naples News, Weather30 cats found in filthy Fort Myers home
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Inside a Fort Myers home live two dogs and about 30 cats all in filthy conditions. The owner contacted Affordable Animal Clinic for help.
"If nobody gives them a home then they will continue to live in this situation or be taken to the humane society and put down," says Melanie Byrd from the clinic.
When workers from the clinic arrived at the house, they could smell the sharp stench of all the things rotting inside from the driveway.
Inside, the clinic showed us, the mountains of trash that cover the floors and furniture. It's hot and hard to breath. Even difficult to move around. The house is clogged with garbage. We also found cats living in these deplorable conditions.
"I feel bad for the animals. It is not right. It is not fair for the animals. They need a place where they can be taken care of," says Byrd.
The clinic called 911 and the owner went to the hospital. Lee County Animal Services came and took some of the sick kittens. But told Four in Your Corner over the phone the other cats will have to wait. They cannot take the cats unless they have the owners permission.
"She needs help finding homes for them," says Byrd.
For now, a few cats will stay in fly and feces filled cages outside. They will have to wait longer to find a good home.
Workers at Affordable Animal Clinic will care for the animals until the owner gets out of the hospital. But they tell Four In Your Corner it's difficult to find them all and it's tough to breathe once they are inside the home.
Animal services officials say in order to seize the animals they need search warrants and may have to fight a legal battle.
JUSTINE WALDMAN
jwaldman@fox4now.com
