Animal Cruelty Charges After Over 130 Cats Found

A woman is facing 93 counts of animal cruelty following a disturbing discovery by California police, who uncovered more than 130 malnourished cats.

On Sunday, a deputy was sent to a Taco Bell parking lot in Santanella to assess the welfare of several cats spotted in a van. Upon arrival, the deputy observed at least 20 visibly distressed cats through the vehicle’s window, as detailed in a social media post from the Merced County Sheriff’s Office.

An animal control officer later checked the U-Haul van and found 106 weakened cats and sadly, 28 dead cats. The officer noted there was no food or water available in the vehicle.

The owner of these animals has been identified as 69-year-old Jeannie Maxon from Long Beach. She has been charged with 93 counts of animal cruelty, and the investigation is still ongoing.

Cats ranging in age from one week to eight years old were rescued and taken to animal shelters in Merced County. Those animals are expected to be available for adoption once they are medically cleared.

The Merced County Sheriff’s Office has also issued a reminder on social media about the dangers of leaving animals in vehicles, especially during the hot summer months. For instance, temperatures inside cars can quickly reach dangerous levels, which can lead to heat-related illnesses or even death for the animals left inside.

In a related incident earlier this year, a woman in New York was arrested for animal cruelty after authorities found 10 deceased animals and other neglected pets in her residence.

The Merced County Sheriff’s Office has not yet provided further comments on this case.