Aug 16, 2007 5:41 am US/Eastern
Nearly 100 Cats & Dogs Found In Mansion Of Squalor
Bodies Of 23 Animals Found Wrapped In Shoeboxes, May Have Been There For A Year
by Jay Dow
SADDLE RIVER, N.J. (CBS) ―
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Authorities rescued dozens of mistreated dogs from this Saddle River mansion.
CBS
Nearly 100 cats and dogs -- 23 of which were found dead -- were discovered living in feces and filth inside a multi-million dollar Bergen County mansion. Police say that number could rise even higher as authorities continued to pull the mistreated animals from the massive property on Wednesday afternoon.
For weeks and possibly even months, Saddle River residents suspected something was wrong at 25 Burning Hollow Road, where the animals were found living in squalid conditions. "My dog Jake would get out once in a while, and I always found him over there by that house," says Connie Lasala, who lives near the house.
The bodies of the dead animals were found wrapped inside plastic bags and placed in shoe boxes stacked in the house's 3-car garage, and ASPCA officials estimate they may have been there for up to a year.
Digg This Story!Officials say 70 live cats and dogs were found roaming freely inside the house among piles of feces and pet food measured up to a foot deep in some areas. Animal Control officials took the animals in for examination and will likely place them up for adoption in the near future.
Wednesday afternoon, officials were still sweeping through the house, finding even more pets hidden throughout the property. One official tells CBS 2 she came upon a cat hiding under the stove.
Authorities were brought to the scene after a deliveryman smelled a foul odor emanating from the house and noticed piles of feces after peering through the window.
The owners of the home, 49-year old Cynthia Stewart and 66-year-old Philip Tamis, declined to comment and have hired an attorney. Later Wednesday they were charged with 10 counts of animal cruelty, and could face many more.
But investigators say it does not appear there was any criminal intent.
"Typically an individual who collects large amounts of animals, in their hearts and minds they think they're being good to them. But at the same time, they're being very cruel by omission," says Antonio Gines of the Bergen Co. ASPCA.
Officials say they were forced to open up the doors and windows to air out the house. The smell was so foul, they also needed to bring in respirators so they could investigate while breathing fresh air.
The owners may have suffered from a disorder known as "animal hoarding," where people who are actually considered pet lovers take in large amounts of pets that need care, but don't have the resources to provide them with a proper and habitable living environment. Animal hoarders typically think they're helping the animals out, but in the end are actually doing far more harm than good.
"These people are animal lovers, and to be honest I think they just tried to care for too many animals, and it became overwhelming," says Bergen Co. ASPCA chief James Lagrosa. "It just got out of control."
Authorities estimate the home is valued at about $2.5 million and say it's now in foreclosure proceedings.
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