102 cats removed from home in Crosby due to neglect, unsafe conditions
CROSBY, Minn. — More than 100 cats were removed from a home in Crosby this week due to unsafe conditions, and now the humane society in the area is hoping they'll be adopted and find their forever home.
Law enforcement conducted a search of a home on Thursday after reports of animal cruelty and neglect. They found 102 cats, which were taken to the Tri-County Humane Society in St. Cloud.
"We received a call from the Federated Humane Society the week before Easter. They said we're working on a case, potentially up to 50 cats," said Marit Ortega with the Tri-County Humane Society.
Staff members worked to vaccinate and treat the 94 cats that were taken to the shelter. The humane society said about a dozen staff members worked for hours to set them up in clean environments with food and water.
WCCO met vet technician Hannah Smith as she treated the youngest kittens who were barely a week old.
"There aren't too many underweight besides a couple of these kittens. A lot of them are dehydrated though," Smith said.
The cats will be spayed or neutered and checked for microchips. The shelter says it is treating all their new guests as if they're strays.
MORE NEWS: Minnesota's Largest Candy Store looks to become world's largest
One of the cats happened to be microchipped, and when staff members contacted the owner, the owner said the cat had gone missing seven years before. They were reunited on Thursday evening.
Another cat who had been missing since October was reunited with its owner.
The humane society is asking that anyone with a missing cat from the area email in a photo of their cat, along with contact information so they can hopefully reunite cats with their owners.
Every cage and kennel in the shelter is full, the humane society said, and they'll need extra staffing. They're asking the community to help donate funds, kibble and cat litter. They also need money to help offset more than $10,000 in veterinary bills.
The cats will be available for adoption starting Wednesday.