HOWELL – Law enforcement officers who were responding to assist a gas company employee found more than 50 cats living in a home on East Third Street in the Freewood Acres section of Howell on July 31.
Authorities said the homeowner, Ivan Sevastianow, 61, was arrested on an unrelated warrant and is expected to be charged with animal cruelty violations.
Police said the gas company employee went to the home to investigate an increase in gas activity even though the homeowner had not paid the gas bill for quite some time.
After the employee arrived at the home, he called police at about noon because he detected the strong odor of gas. The employee was unsure if the residence was occupied, but told police he saw several cats around the windows of the home.
According to police, the home was determined to be uninhabitable. There appeared to be more than 50 cats in the house, including some that were dead. The house was full of cat feces and clutter filled the entire residence.
Authorities said when fire officials attempted to enter the house it was determined the homeowner was inside. Shortly after 3 p.m., the the home was deemed to be structurally sound.
Animal control officers and Monmouth County SPCA (MCSPCA) enforcement personnel removed all of the animals from the residence.
Police said Sevastianow was arrested on an unrelated warrant and will be facing animal cruelty charges.
MCSPCA personnel maintained a presence at the home through Aug. 1 and were attempting to determine if more cats were in the residence, according to Lindsay Sanator of the MCSPCA
“(The cats) are all different ages, mostly adults, but we do have some nursing kittens and pregnant mothers. Many of the cats were covered in fleas, had mild upper respiratory infections and skin infections; basically everything you would see when cats are in close quarters with each other,” Sanator said.
The MCSPCA is asking for monetary donations and donations of supplies to help continue caring for the cats that were removed from the home. The agency may be reached at 732-542-0040.