Several cats, kittens rescued from York County hoarding situation
By Morrissey Walsh
Click here for updates on this story
GLEN ROCK, Pennsylvania (WGAL) — Volunteers from Castaway Critters rescued several cats and kittens from what they described as a hoarding situation in York County, entering the home in hazmat suits and respirators because of the conditions inside.
Rescue responds to horrific conditions in Glen Rock home “It’s a hell house,” said Jessica Walton, operations manager of Castaway Critters Animal Rescue. Walton described the conditions in the home as some of the worst she’s ever seen.
The faces of kittens and cats were poking out the windows of a home in Glen Rock. A neighbor saying she sounded the alarm about the conditions in the house.
“They’re helpless. I just see them in the window looking out, and I couldn’t just keep watching,” said Stacy Guess, a neighbor.
Volunteers said the conditions inside the home are deplorable, with the smell so overwhelming that even with hazmat suits and respirators, they could not stay inside for long.
“Especially when it’s warm or windy out, the smell gets overwhelming. It’s really hard. We can’t have our windows open. It’s been like that for years,” Guess said.
Rescue effort faces major challenges Guess explained that the home’s owner moved to a nursing home, and the situation has worsened since then. Castaway Critters believes the cats in the house have not had human contact for months.
“You have cats there, so feral they are jumping off the walls. So you can’t just grab them. And when you can grab what you can grab, you have to be careful because you can get bitten, scratched, a number of things could happen,” Walton said.
The rescue removed several cats and kittens from the home on Wednesday and estimates that at least 13 remain, ranging in age from just one or two days old to 10 years old.
“If you can understand that you’re in a house, it smells terrible. You’re gas-masked up. You know there’s no light and you’re down there digging for day-old babies,” Walton said.
Support requested as rescue continues Walton asked for patience and kindness as the rescue works to safely remove all the cats and provide them with the care they need.
“We’re going to rewrite their endings, and we’re going to make sure that we can offer support in the community that if you are struggling, you can reach out to us and we will help you,” Walton said.
The SPCA released a statement saying they had been working with the homeowner’s family to coordinate the intake of the animals when community members became aware of the situation and contacted local officials. Another rescue organization then became involved and took possession of several cats. The SPCA said they remain in contact with the family and will assist with any remaining animals in the home.
Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.