AUBURN GRESHAM — An Auburn Gresham girl was charged with a misdemeanor Tuesday after Chicago Animal Care and Control and police rescued over two dozen cats from her home.
Animal Care had acquired a report of “potential animal cruelty” at an Auburn Gresham home within the 7700 block of South Hermitage Avenue, and so they investigated, mentioned Armando Tejeda, public data officer and government administrative assistant on the division.
Officers and animal rescuers discovered 26 cats inside Ashley Burrell’s home, officers mentioned. The cats “showed signs of neglect” and have been eliminated by Animal Control, police mentioned.
Burrell, 37, was charged with a misdemeanor in “animal owner duties,” police mentioned.
Officials have been unable to share particular particulars concerning the investigation “as this is an ongoing criminal matter,” Tejeda mentioned in a press release. “However, we want to assure the public that animal welfare is our top priority. We are committed to thoroughly investigating all allegations of cruelty and taking appropriate action to ensure the safety and well-being of animals within our jurisdiction.”
News of the feline rescue unfold swiftly after Erica Roewade, co-founder and outreach director at Cats In Action, posted videos and photos on Facebook of animal rescuers and officer taking cats out the home.
Cats In Action is a neighborhood nonprofit analysis and advocacy group for outside cats based by Roewade and Elizabeth “Liz” Houtz, who additionally serves as program director.
“The house was in squalid, deplorable condition, with garbage and animal feces everywhere,” Roewade wrote in her Facebook publish. “Cats were living in the walls, and the stench and contamination issue was so terrible that Animal Control officers were seen entering the house in protective white suits.”
Roewade mentioned officers instructed her they eliminated three dogs and 36 cats from the home, a few of which have been useless. Animal Control officers wouldn’t verify that, however not less than one canine may be seen in pictures from the scene.
In the previous 13 years, Roewade and Houtz have documented 82 animal hoarding instances within the Chicago space and assisted with over 25 initiatives to rehabilitate, vet and place cats in a protected home.
Roewade has “had an eye” on Burrell and her organization, Nikki’s Ferals, for almost 4 years, she instructed Block Club.
Nikki’s Ferals supplies cat colonies with meals, shelter and vet care, in accordance with its Facebook page. Burrell is listed because the director. It’s marketed as a 501(c)(3) organization, however a seek for Nikki’s Ferals within the Internal Revenue Service’s Tax Exempt Organization search didn’t return any outcomes.
Burrell couldn’t be reached for remark Wednesday. No one responded to messages left by way of the Nikki’s Ferals Facebook web page, and the listed telephone quantity seemed to be disconnected. Other individuals listed as having the identical deal with instructed Block Club they didn’t know Burrell.
For years, Roewade and Houtz have acquired quite a few complaints and heard “crazy stories” about fraud, security issues, cat theft and different unethical practices at Burrell’s nonprofit, Roewade mentioned.
Burrell typically solicited donations and sponsors for cats and their vet care by way of her Facebook accounts, Houtz mentioned.
Roewade and Houtz mentioned they couldn’t persuade the Illinois Department of Agriculture, town’s Department of Buildings or police to look into Nikki’s Ferals. The two tracked down the proprietor of the Auburn Gresham home and linked that person — “an animal lover” — with Animal Control operations supervisor Angela Rayburn to research the complaints, Roewade and Houtz mentioned.
“It’s frustrating to work with city services, but Animal Control has been extremely supportive,” Houtz mentioned. “They’ve made every effort to address this as quickly as they can.”
It wasn’t instantly clear who the proprietor is. Property tax information present the home is linked to South West Houses, LLC, based mostly in North Center.
Animal hoarding is extra frequent than individuals assume, Houtz mentioned.
About 25 % of animal rescues and shelters are hoarding conditions, according to a 2016 study at Portland State University. The recidivism price for animal hoarders is almost 100%, in accordance with the Animal Legal Defense Fund.
Roewade and Houtz mentioned they hope Burrell will face extra extreme costs to forestall her from hoarding and harming animals once more.
The metropolis additionally wants higher insurance policies to forestall animal hoarding and a devoted police job pressure to research claims and “eliminate the suffering of animals,” Roewade mentioned.
“Hoarding does not mean a number,” Roewade mentioned. “It means quality of care and ability to care.”
People can assist the rescued animals by contacting their native shelters or the Homeward Bound Animal Placement Program and undertake a pet from them now, Houtz mentioned.
After well being evaluations, the animals from Burrell’s home will go to shelters. An adoption “helps the pipeline and capacity at Animal Control,” Houtz mentioned.
People must also analysis organizations earlier than donating funds or giving up take care of stray animals, Houtz mentioned.
“If you have a bad feeling about something, you’re probably not the only one, and you’re probably right,” Houtz mentioned.
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