Animal Charity in need after 28 cats found, some pregnant

Staff report

BOARDMAN

Animal Charity Humane Society is in need of donations after it received more than two dozen cats from a storage facility.

The organization is requesting monetary donations as well as food, cat litter and litter boxes after it took in 28 cats Monday evening.

Officers were dispatched to a storage facility at 7:45 p.m. after the agency called with a report of several cats inside a storage unit at 5052 Youngstown-Warren Road, according to a Boardman police report.

Lisa Hill, director of Animal Charity, said the property owner gave the agency permission to remove the cats from the unit.

When the unit was opened, there was a strong odor of urine, according to the report.

The unit had no signs of ventilation, which made it difficult for those responding to walk into the unit without coughing or their eyes watering.

The cats did have food and water in the unit.

On Tuesday, Animal Charity had tests done on the cats for feline AIDS and feline leukemia. They will be given shots and flea treatment.

At least three of the cats are pregnant, Hill said.

Animal Charity’s goal is to gain custody of the cats and then adopt them out.

No charges have been filed yet against the owner of the cats. Animal Charity advised police that it would open an animal-cruelty case.

Donations will be accepted at both Animal Charity locations: 4140 Market St. or 535 W. Main St., Canfield.