Two people were arrested on animal cruelty charges after police found more than 100 animals, many of them dead, in their search of a home Thursday in the 200 block of West Jessup Street in Alvarado.
Patrol officers were called to the home for a welfare check due to a foul odor, said Alvarado Assistant Chief Ben Moore. While officers were at the home, they saw a large number of cats and smelled feces and urine.
Alvarado police, along with the city’s animal control and code enforcement departments, searched the residence and found 86 dead cats, 77 live cats, six live dogs, seven dead chickens and two live bearded dragons.
Authorities say they have recovered 20 more live cats since Thursday. Moore said the number of dead animals has increased to more than 100, as they find more carcasses or are forced to euthanize some of the animals.
“They are in such poor health that we don’t believe a lot of them are going to be able to make it,” Moore said.
Some cats roamed throughout the home and others were kept in cages, said Alvarado Lieutenant Casey Lopez. There were several holes in the walls and ceiling of the home, which left spaces for animals to hide or become trapped, Lopez said.
“[The home] was deemed unlivable for animals and people,” Moore said. “Public works is boarding it up this morning.”
Police said the man and woman arrested may face additional charges in the case.
The rescued animals were removed from the home and taken to Alvarado Animal Control. Police said Operation Kindness Humane Society and Tri-City Rescue are providing shelter and medical assistance to the animals.