2 Dozen Animals Removed From West End Home In Deplorable Condition
WEST END (KDKA) – Two people are likely to face child endangerment and animal cruelty charges after officials removed more than 20 animals from a West End home in deplorable condition Wednesday morning.
One by one, a volunteer group, known as the Homeless Cat Management Team, brought out 23 cats and kittens. They recovered a dog, too.
They say what they found inside the home in the 3100 block of Bergman Street was sickening. German cockroaches filled the house and covered the animals. They were literally falling off the kittens' cage.
"There's roaches on the kittens that appear to be 3- to 4-weeks-old," said Mary Kay Gentert, of the Homeless Cat Management Team. "Some of their eyes don't look healthy, which could indicate an upper respiratory infection."
Police describe a disgusting scene inside. So disgusting, they had to wear Hazmats suits.
"It's very deplorable conditions inside the home; feces and urine inside the residence as well," said Pittsburgh Public Safety spokeswoman Emily Schaffer.
"There's feces everywhere," added Gentert. "We dug in some areas probably four feet of clothes and debris, and below that we would find a used litter box."
To make matters worse, two children, a 12-year-old girl and a 17-year-old boy were living in those conditions.
The parents were hauled out in handcuffs as police prepare several charges against them. Late Wednesday, their names hadn't been released.
But neighbors, who didn't want to be identified, say they've been trying to get something done about it for years.
"They get away with it. I'm just surprised now after six years, they finally did something with that family and all these different animals," said one neighbor.
The children will be turned over to Children, Youth and Family Services.
As for the animals, the Homeless Cat Management Team will care for them and get them spayed or neutered. If you would like to help with their care, visit homelesscat.org.
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