Pima Animal Care Center responded Wednesday to a home that had allegedly been the scene of massive cat hoarding.
PACC spokeswoman Marcia Zamorano confirmed that a PACC Animal Protection Services crew was dispatched to the 1000 block of North Via Terrado to handle the situation,
Adam Ricci, PACC's Animal Protection Services Chief, explained the preliminary reports showed there were around 40 cats living in the house. However, he said that number could end up being higher or lower, once the investigation is complete.
Abdul Kahayat owns the property. He was there to evict his tenant on Wednesday morning, for a financial dispute. When he and the constable arrived and set foot inside the home, they were shocked by what they saw, and what they smelled.
"We ran into an army of cats. I'm talking 40, 50, it could be more," Kahayat said. "It's terrible. Terrible. We all wore masks when we went in."
Animal control still here at a home where around 40 cats were living. I’m told it’s @PimaAnimalCare’s 1st animal hoarding case of the year @kgun9 pic.twitter.com/GoPxLJije6
— Max Darrow (@MaxDarrowTV) January 17, 2018
Upon entry, they found dozens of cats. Some of them were very small kittens, others were full-grown adults. The living conditions were very messy, with food and garbage strewn all about. Some cats were tied to objects on leashes, others were hiding in various spots around the house.
"You cannot walk unless you step on a cat," Kahayat said.
The property owner is upset about the condition of his home, but says he's even more concerned about the well-being and safety of the cats that were living there.
"Those cats need to be cared for," he said. "They are not being taken care of right here."
