Animal cruelty investigation underway into Ontario property overrun by cats
Ontario’s animal welfare organization says a hoarding issue may have contributed to a situation at an abandoned rural property where local rescue groups say they’ve found dozens of cats, both dead and alive.
The Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said it is in the midst of an animal cruelty probe, which began in December, involving a home and a barn in Beamsville, Ont., in the Niagara Region.
No charges have been laid in the case but the OSPCA said it has been working with a woman who they said used to rent the home on the property.
“It did appear to be a hoarding situation,” spokeswoman Alison Cross said Monday. “We were there, feeding animals, going back daily, addressing any concerns of animals that might have been appearing — they are roaming outside, so it’s not easy to find them all.”