Scores of cats, animals found dead at Middle River home

after police obtained a second search warrant for the home on the property.

“While they were executing the search warrant on the outbuildings, detectives started to see cats in the window of the house. And every time they looked up, it was a different cat they would see,” Peach said. “They did more investigation to build more probable cause to get a search warrant for the house.”

After “several hours” in the home, officials recovered 74 live cats, 59 dead cats, one live bird and two live dogs that had been kept in cages in the master bedroom, according to charging documents. An unidentified dead animal also was recovered.

Some of the rescued cats have died since they were removed from the location in Middle River, but Peach was not sure how many.

A detective’s report, provided by Baltimore County Police, said officials found crates in a garage stacked two high, with many crates holding two to five cats each.

A veterinarian who responded to the scene said many of the cats had symptoms that indicated leukemia, conjunctivitis, upper respiratory infection or other infections, according to the report. An animal services officer, who saw many cats thrashing and jumping around inside the cages, said that behavior was consistent with animals experiencing starvation.

In a shed on the property, the detective wrote officials found coolers filled with cats in “varying states of decomposition.” The detective wrote the coolers had a foul smell, and were covered with flies, gnats and maggots.

During the second search Oct. 17, officials entered the home to find it covered with animal feces and urine, according to the report. The detective wrote the kitchen was “abysmal at best,” with debris, animal feces and loose cats running around, along with dirty dishes in the sink and cobwebs on the wall.

In the living room, officials observed the carpet had been removed from the home, and the wooden subfloor had become stained with animal feces and urine.

Multiple times in the report, detectives and other responding officials describe feeling sick or having trouble speaking because of intense chemical odors from the home, garage and shed.

Arrington and Coxoperated a trap, neuter, vaccinate and release program, which is a form of population control and helps reduce the number of feral cats, outside of their home, according to police records. The organization, called “Colony Cats of Bird River and Beyond” is registered with the IRS as charitable organization, but did not have a Holding Facility License through Baltimore County, for holding a large number of animals.

Baltimore County Animal Services said in a statement that people are encouraged to adopt a cat at Baltimore County Animal Services. For more information, they may call 410-887-PAWS (7297).