A Waimanalo man has been cited for misdemeanor animal cruelty after 50 cats and kittens were found on his property, 13 of them in bad shape.
If convicted, he would face up to a year in jail and a $2,000 fine for each of the 13 counts, a Hawaiian Humane Society official said.
Operations Director Keoni Vaughn said the organization had been working with the man for four to five months, but conditions did not improve and he was unwilling to surrender the cats. That would have meant relinquishing ownership and allowing the agency to find the cats new homes.
The Humane Society cited the man and impounded 13 cats in the worst health on Tuesday.
"These people clearly love their animals," said Humane Society spokeswoman Jacque LeBlanc. "They were clearly heartbroken, but we feel they needed to be removed to prevent suffering."
The agency had received a tip about neglect about four or five months ago and its personnel found 50 mostly free-roaming cats, the youngest a roughly 10-week-old kitten, several juvenile cats about 9 months old and the remainder adults about 2 to 5 years old. They were being kept at a couple’s Waimanalo home, the precise location of which was not disclosed.
The agency’s chief veterinarian, Dr. Aleisha Swartz, found a young cat with one bulging red eye, likely due to a traumatic injury, such as being struck by a car, she said. Swartz said the eye will be surgically removed.
At the organization’s headquarters Wednesday, Swartz displayed another cat suffering from an upper respiratory infection and with red eyes and fur loss.
Most of the 13 will stay with the Humane Society until the cases are resolved.
Vaughn said for owners who give up ownership voluntarily, the agency could negotiate with them, but "you don’t get a free pass just ’cause you surrender them."
Last year, the society responded to 15,803 calls for service. Of those, 1,543 were for alleged cruelty.
"For people in situations over their heads, they need to ask for help," LeBlanc said. The society can put community members in touch with nonprofit rescue groups and other programs with resources, including food and veterinary care.
Call 356-2217 for a society outreach coordinator.
