An investigation has been launched after 130 deceased cats were found in a freezer in Canada.
The grim discovery was made inside a trailer in Vanderhoof, British Columbia, and has prompted an investigation by the BC Society of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA).
Eileen Drever, who has been involved with the SPCA for more than three decades, said that it was one of the worst cases she has ever seen.
"We've come across deceased animals in the past, obviously, but never to that extent," she told CBC.
Less than a week after the find, animal control officers searched another trailer owner by the same person in Fort St. James, roughly 40 miles from Vanderhoof. They found an additional 120 cats and three chihuahuas living in "unsafe and filthy" conditions.
"The entryway and hallway to the bedrooms were covered in layers of faeces, and the entire trailer was very hot and filled with an overwhelming ammonia smell due to the buildup of urine," said Drever in a statement posted to the SPCA website. "The faeces and urine were so thick that boot covers were pulled off within a couple of steps due to the stickiness."
Drever added that the animals were being deprived of basic sustenance.
"No water was present for any of the animals," she said. "Some dry cat food had been scattered on the floor, but the food was contaminated with urine and faeces."
She added: “Many of the cats appeared very hungry and came up to our officer upon initial entry and immediately began eating the food that was offered.” She notes that many of the cats were having difficulty breathing."
The SPCA said that the three Chihuahuas that were seized are being treated for "dental disease, hair loss and grooming issues".
"Any time we are dealing with situations of animal hoarding it is devastating for both the animals and the people,” Drever said. “We are just so glad that we were called in in time to rescue the remaining animals.”
The rescued cats and dogs are now being cared for at SPCA shelters and will continue to receive ongoing veterinary treatment.
