FORT LAUDERDALE — A girl who was discovered to have collected over 60 cats — all dwelling in deplorable circumstances — was ordered Wednesday to serve three years in jail after being convicted on animal cruelty costs.
Michelline Toulouse, 39, was convicted following a trial that included a number of hours of testimony wherein the girl was alleged to have stored 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 neighborhood service, particularly with a rubbish assortment and cleansing supplier.
The choose additionally ordered that she not maintain 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 lady had pleaded no contest to the 12 aggravated animal cruelty costs that have been filed in opposition to her.
Broward County Corrections
In May 2021, animal rescue officers who went to Toulouse’s home discovered no less than 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, based on 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 regulation enforcement officers stated.
But the prosecution stated a number of of the cats that have been malnourished have been near demise whereas others suffered from contaminated chew wounds inflicted by different feral cats.
Some of the cats have been discovered within the partitions of the girl’s home whereas no less than two cats have been eaten alive by maggots, based on the prosecution.
The prosecution stated a few of the surviving cats’ bones have been protruding by means of their pores and skin and all of them had parasites and lined in fleas, testimony that prosecutors used to point out the abuse had been happening 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 stage,” the prosecutor stated whereas asking the court docket to impose a five-year jail sentence. “To sit and watch and do nothing as animals starve to demise and cannibalize one another.”
The lady’s family members stated her intentions have been good however that she was not in a position to totally take care of the cats regardless that she continued to undertake a number of of them.
An animal rescue group known as Saving Sage Animal Rescue Foundation discovered the cats after going to Toulouse’s home.
One rescuer testified concerning 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.”
