FORT LAUDERDALE — A lady who was discovered to have collected over 60 cats — all residing in deplorable circumstances — was ordered Wednesday to serve three years in jail after being convicted on animal cruelty fees.
Michelline Toulouse, 39, was convicted following a trial that included a number of hours of testimony by which the girl was alleged to have saved over 60 cats in her Sunrise condominium earlier than she deserted the animals.
Broward Circuit Judge Ari Porth sentenced Toulouse to a three-year jail sentence, which might be adopted by 10 years of psychological well being probation. She was additionally ordered to carry out 500 hours of group service, particularly with a rubbish assortment and cleansing supplier.
The choose additionally ordered that she not preserve any animals whereas on probation or have any contact with Saving Sage Animal Rescue Foundation, the animal rescue group the place she beforehand labored.
The girl had pleaded no contest to the 12 aggravated animal cruelty fees that have been filed towards her.
Broward County Corrections
In May 2021, animal rescue officers who went to Toulouse’s home discovered a minimum of 5 dozen cats within the home, together with 9 that had died. Several others have been discovered to be malnourished or affected by different health-related points, in line with officers.
Toulouse testified on her personal behalf and broke down into tears whereas answering questions, insisting that she had not deserted the animals regardless of what legislation enforcement officers stated.
But the prosecution stated a number of of the cats that have been malnourished have been near loss of life whereas others suffered from contaminated chunk wounds inflicted by different feral cats.
Some of the cats have been discovered within the partitions of the girl’s home whereas a minimum of two cats have been eaten alive by maggots, in line with the prosecution.
The prosecution stated a few of the surviving cats’ bones have been protruding by their pores and skin and all of them had parasites and coated in fleas, testimony that prosecutors used to point out the abuse had been occurring for a number of months earlier than they have been found.
“This was not an act of hoarding or compassion fatigue. This was cruelty within the worst degree,” the prosecutor stated whereas asking the courtroom to impose a five-year jail sentence. “To sit and watch and do nothing as animals starve to loss of life and cannibalize one another.”
The girl’s relations stated her intentions have been good however that she was not capable of absolutely take care of the cats despite the fact that she continued to undertake a number of of them.
An animal rescue group referred to as Saving Sage Animal Rescue Foundation discovered the cats after going to Toulouse’s home.
One rescuer testified in regards to the circumstances that they discovered the surviving cats in.
“They have been extraordinarily malnourished,” she stated. They “appeared very, very hungry (and) they have been pores and skin and bones.”
