Woman Could Face 5 Years In Jail For Having 51 Cats

[matcom]

<snip>

GIBSONTON, Fla. -- A 47-year-old Gibsonton woman could face up to five years behind bars on animal cruelty charges over her more than 50 cats. Hillsborough County Animal Control investigators removed 51 cats from Lorrie Flesher's mobile home Tuesday. They were later euthanized.

Officials said Flesher was charged with four counts of confining animals without food or water and four counts of animal cruelty, depriving animals of veterinarian care.

Animal Control spokeswoman Marty Ryan said people who have dozens of animals think they are doing good and deny that they have too many.

But this was not the first time Flesher has had a problem with Animal Control. Ryan said Flesher has previously been cited for having animals she was not properly caring for, and she knew what she was doing this time.

http://www.wftv.com/irresistible/10329049/detail.html

[ironflange]

1. shhhhh. . .

Don't tell Bertha!

[bertha katzenengel]

6. I heard that.

;)

[youthere]

2. Those poor cats.

Why do people do that shit?

[Parche]

3. cats

HAIR BALL

[jilln]

4. Well that's a very misleading title you chose.

She's not in trouble for HAVING them. She's in trouble for starving them and neglecting them. BIG difference.

[Pithlet]

5. Sounds like it could be mental illness

If she wasn't, she should have been evaluated the first time Animal Control dealt with her. It might have saved those cats. I think for animal cruelty charges to stick, it should be shown that actual harm was intended. I have nothing but contempt for people who are deliberately cruel to animals and think they should face stiff jail sentences, but people who hoard them due to mental issues need treatment, not jail.