‘Sheer neglect and abuse’ of about 200 cats found in MD animal cruelty case

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Wicomico County Sheriff Mike Lewis offered an update Monday on an animal cruelty case involving about 200 cats uncovered at Good Shepherd Cat Sanctuary in Delmar.

Lewis was joined at the news conference by Wicomico County Executive Julie Giordano; Kim Nock, executive director of the Humane Society of Wicomico County; and Wayne Barrall, Humane Society of Wicomico County animal control officer.

Rescuers worked to save the approximately 200 cats from the alleged cruelty case in Delmar on Feb. 25.

Humane World for Animals, formerly called the Humane Society of the United States, assisted the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office with expert animal handling, much-needed veterinary care for the cats and scene documentation. The Humane Society of Wicomico County, Wicomico County Animal Control and an animal control officer with the Salisbury Police Department also assisted at the location.

Trudging through many inches of snow to reach the site, Humane World for Animals responders found cats huddled together outdoors in frigid conditions, while others were found in hazardous, unsanitary sheds and outbuildings. In addition, they found several deceased cats and skeletal remains on the property.

At the March 2 news conference, Lewis noted that the shelter was served notice on Feb.3 to clean up the operation, and at that time five cats were seized by the Humane Society, one deceased.

When investigators arrived for the rescue operation on Feb. 25, many of the cats were deceased and in various states of decomposition, Lewis said at the news conference. He displayed photos of some of the affected cats, two that were blind and one that had lost both eyes.

Lewis described the situation as one of “sheer neglect and abuse.”

The ongoing investigation started, Lewis said, with an anonymous source that was concerned about how the cat sanctuary was being operated. The suspect was not named at the news conference because he or she has not yet been charged, Lewis said.

The cats are not going to be euthanized, Humane Society of Wicomico County Director Nock said. Nock added that the shelter had charged a $350 intake fee.

The rescued cats are being housed temporarily at the Campbell Soup building.

Reporting by Keith Demko, Salisbury Daily Times / USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect.