Pet-Abuse.Com - Animal Abuse Case Details: 34 cats, 4 dogs seized - 7 dead, cannibalised

34 cats, 4 dogs seized - 7 dead, cannibalised
Fond du Lac, WI (US)

Date: Jan 31, 2007
Local Map: available
Disposition: Alleged

Alleged: Cynthia H. Neu

Case Updates: 7 update(s) available

Case ID: 10649

Classification: Hoarding

Animal: cat, dog (non pit-bull)

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A malnourished cat rescued from a Marquette Street home where several abused animals were found this morning escaped from a crate, jumped out of a parked Humane Society van into the snow and died.

�He was dead when he hit the snow,� said Fond du Lac Humane Society President Rob Post. The cat was so malnourished its legs were about the diameter of a pencil.

Several cats and at least one dog were found dead at 253 Marquette St., said Humane Society Shelter Manager Lucy Mathers. She said the dead dog was found in the basement and it appeared that other animals had been eating it.

There was no water for the pets and feces littered the residence, Mathers said. Dead and nearly-dead animals were found throughout the home, she said.

�The stench is unbearable,� Mathers noted.

Fond du Lac Police Department responded to the residence at 9:43 a.m., said Lt. Pat McKeough.

�It�s a pretty deplorable situation,� he said.

Police declined to release the woman tenant�s name at this time. The owner of the building told The Reporter the woman has occupied the home since October.

Humane Society employees were still pulling animals from the residence around 11:30 a.m. and planned to be working throughout the day at the house.

Fond du Lac police officers and a detective were on scene around 12:30 p.m. gathering information, McKeough said.

The last serious case of animal neglect in the city occurred in fall 2005 and involved several dozen dead and nearly dead cats in a Bank Street home. Some of them appeared to be eaten by other cats, according to the criminal complaint.

Merici Habib of Fond du Lac was sentenced to five years probation for 10 misdemeanor counts of mistreatment of animals in connection with that case.

Case Updates

Five of 38 animals found barely alive in a Fond du Lac home last month have found new homes.

Fond du Lac Humane Society workers removed 34 cats and four dogs from 253 Marquette St. on Jan. 31. Eleven cats beyond saving were later euthanized.

The animals' owner, 37-year-old Cynthia Neu, is expected to be charged with animal neglect, Fond du Lac police said. She remains in Washington County Jail on a probation hold.

Police say her 37-year old brother may also be charged with failing to care for the animals, as asked to, while Neu was in jail.

Cosmo, a 4-year-old Boston terrier mix, was taken home by his new owners on Saturday, said shelter office manager Nadine Matthies. Zeus, a 2-year-old Doberman pinscher was adopted Thursday, and four applications have come in to adopt Aries, the German shepherd.

"So many people have contacted us or sent funds. The response has been overwhelming," Matthies said.

Phone calls have come in inquiring about the 1-year-old pit bull named Czar, Matthies said. Both Czar and Aries are scheduled to be neutered Tuesday.

Three of the 23 cats at the shelter have been adopted.

"Many of the cats are still recovering from upper respiratory infections," Matthies said. "They are also still on the thin side and need to gain weight before they can be spayed or neutered."

The animals are all gaining weight under the diligent care of shelter workers, Matthies said.

"They all seem to be doing good. Hopefully they are all adoptable," Matthies said.

Source: Osh Kosh Northwesten - Feb 12, 2007
Update posted on Feb 15, 2007 - 4:06AM

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The brother of a 37-year-old Hubertus woman who left several dozen cats and dogs unattended in a Marquette Street home she rented may face criminal charges in connection with alleged animal neglect.

Cynthia Neu's 39-year-old brother was supposed to care for the 34 cats and five dogs kept at the home she rented at 253 Marquette St., said Major Kevin Lemke of the Fond du Lac Police Department. Neu was taken into custody at the Washington County Jail on Jan. 12 on a probation hold.

"Cynthia had made contact with (the brother) and asked him to care for the animals," Lemke said. "He didn't provide any water."

Neu has admitted the animals found inside the home were her pets, Lemke said. In total, 17 cats and one dog kept at the house died, allegedly because of neglect.

Police are wrapping up their investigation and will ask the Fond du Lac County District's office to charge Neu and her brother with animal neglect, Lemke said.

Six cats � three found in bags in a freezer � and one dog, which was half eaten, apparently by the other animals, were found dead in the residence, according to a police report.

It appeared the animals had not been let out in several weeks, and feces was "wall to wall" in some rooms, according to the police report.

Source: Fond du Lac Reporter - Feb 9, 2007
Update posted on Feb 9, 2007 - 6:13PM

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An investigation into a 37-year-old Hubertus woman continues as investigators on Tuesday questioned members of her family about possible animal neglect, a police official said.

Police expect the investigation to be completed by the end of the week, said Lt. Steve Klein of the Fond du Lac Police Department.

A charging decision will then be made for Cynthia Neu, who has admitted that several cats and dogs that were found neglected last week at a Marquette Street home she rented were hers.

In total, Fond du Lac Humane Society workers rescued 34 cats and four dogs on Jan. 31 from the home. Six cats � three found in bags in a freezer � and one dog, which was found half-eaten apparently by the other living animals, were found dead in the residence. Eleven of the 34 cats were later euthanized.

Neu has been in custody at the Washington County Jail since Jan. 12 on a probation hold.

After Neu was taken into custody, her brother was allegedly supposed to care for the animals, according to the report.

Following a search of the home, evidence of food was found within the residence, but the animals were apparently left without water. In a bathroom where three cats were found dead, the toilet basin was empty and a report indicates thirsty animals had licked the water out.

It also appeared the animals had not been let out in several weeks since feces was �wall to wall� in some rooms, according to the report.

Source: Fond du Lac Reporter - Feb 6, 2007
Update posted on Feb 6, 2007 - 11:19PM

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A woman who rented a home where more than 40 neglected animals were found last week has admitted to police the animals were her pets, a Fond du Lac Police Department official said.

Cynthia Neu, 37, is expected to be charged this week in connection with the incident at 253 Marquette St., said Police Department Major Kevin Lemke.

In total, Fond du Lac County Humane Society workers rescued 34 cats and four dogs Wednesday from the home. Six cats � three found in bags in a freezer � and one dog, which was found half eaten apparently by the other living animals, were found dead in the residence. Eleven of the 34 cats beyond saving were later euthanized.

Investigators traveled to nearby Washington County Thursday afternoon where they interviewed Neu. Neu is in the Washington County Jail on a probation hold.

"She admitted that they were her pets," Lemke said. "She was basically just afraid since she wasn't supposed to have pets. A condition of her probation was that she wasn't supposed to have pet at all."

In July 2005, Neu was found guilty in Washington County Circuit Court of intentionally failing to provide food for an animal and sentenced to two years probation.

Besides a residence in Fond du Lac, Neu also rented an apartment in Hubertus where her probation agent would make surprise checks, according to a Fond du Lac Police Department report.

The probation agent did not know Neu was also renting a residence in Fond du Lac or about the animals in her possession.

Earlier this month, Fond du Lac police contacted the probation agent after it appeared Neu had been keeping animals at a location on Satterlee Street . There, they found dog feces on the floor, a strong odor of urine in the air and scratch marks to floors, windows, doors and doorframes in the offices where dogs were allegedly confined, according to the report.

Neu was subsequently taken into custody on Jan. 12 for violating a condition of her probation that stated she was not to have any contact with animals, according to the report.

At that time, Neu's probation agent asked if she had any animals in Fond du Lac and Neu said, "No," according to the report.

During the interview Thursday afternoon, Lemke said it did not appear that Neu was mentally ill. He also said it appears Neu didn't abuse the animals.

"We don't have any evidence that she was beating these animals or anything," he said.

Neu told police she was caring for some of the cats for a sick friend, but did not say how she got the dogs, Lemke said.

After Neu was taken into custody, her brother was allegedly supposed to care for the animals, according to the report.

During a search Wednesday afternoon, food was found in various places throughout the home, but the animals were apparently left without water. It also appeared the animals had not been let out in several weeks and feces was "wall to wall" in some rooms.

In a bathroom where three cats were found dead, the toilet basin was empty and the report indicates the thirsty animals most likely licked out the water.

Three cats were found in two separate bags dead in the freezer, according to the report.

The report indicates the half-eaten dog, a German shepherd, appeared to have died shortly before the search was conducted since its body was still warm. The other animals had eaten parts of its face and neck.

A worried neighbor called police Monday to report she was concerned because she hadn't seen Neu or any of the animals outside in awhile.

The neighbor had also called in December to report animal feces all over Neu's yard and dog's urinating on her garage. Police responded and asked Neu to clean the mess up and she agreed.

Fond du Lac police did not have any other complaints on record regarding Neu or the address.

Source: Fond du Lac Reporter - Feb 5, 2007
Update posted on Feb 6, 2007 - 5:29PM

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A humane officer from the Washington County town of Richfield says she wasn't surprised when she learned a former resident of the township is suspected of animal neglect in Fond du Lac.

"I really, truly knew this was going to happen again," said Kathy Jaster.

Cynthia Neu, 37, (pronounced Nye) was the renter of 253 Marquette St., where police found more than three-dozen cats and dogs Wednesday morning. She is in jail in Washington County on a probation hold.

"I told the court it was going to happen again unless she got mental health care," Jaster said.

Jaster said that in September of 2004, she and a constable entered Neu's town of Richfield home and found 24 dogs and 12 cats. Neu had been warned, Jaster said, by the town of Richfield that she could only have three dogs in the home.

"She was hiding them," Jaster said. "She didn't want the neighbors to know she had them, so, for the most part, she was not letting them outside. The house was in horrendous shape."

Neu's elderly father and her brother were living with her at the time, Jaster said.

That home was full of feces and the odor of urine was so strong, Jaster said, that the building inspector refused to go inside.

Jaster said the animals were removed and misdemeanor charges of animal neglect were filed against Neu. She was convicted and placed on probation.

Neu, who goes by the nickname "CyNeu," is a classic hoarder, Jaster said.

She was under orders not to have any animals in the town of Richfield, but it is easy to get animals, Jaster said.

"She is a collector," Jaster said. "When she told me in court two years ago she was going to open doggie day care someplace else, I told her that business meant she was going to take care of others' pets. It didn't mean housing your own animals."

Jaster said she was aware Neu was taken into custody Jan. 12 for breaking her probation for the town's case.

While there were no dead animals found at Neu's home in the town of Richfield, Jaster hopes the circumstances of the Fond du Lac case will bring harsh penalties for whoever is held responsible for what happened to the animals.

But Wisconsin has lousy animal protection laws, she said.

"Other states have better laws," Jaster said. "We need to do something about that to make the penalties harsher. I would hope since we're talking about dead animals in Fond du Lac, something will be done."

Source: Fond du Lac Reporter - Feb 1, 2007
Update posted on Feb 5, 2007 - 1:54AM

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Plans were in place Thursday afternoon for Fond du Lac police to interview a 37-year-old woman who was renting a Marquette Street residence where several dozen neglected animals were found Wednesday.

Six cats and one dog were found dead inside the residence at 253 Marquette St., and 34 cats and four dogs were rescued. Officials said that all of the animals were skin and bones and that 11 of the cats were later euthanized. The dead dog�s head was missing after apparently being eaten by the other living dogs.

Fond du Lac Police Department detectives were in neighboring Washington County on Thursday to talk with family members of 37-year-old Cynthia Neu, the renter of the Marquette Street residence, said Major Kevin Lemke of the Police Department.

Detectives also planned to talk with Neu, Lemke said.

The investigation will center on who should be held responsible for the alleged animal neglect, said Capt. Jeff Venne of the Police Department.

Neu has been in custody at the Washington County Jail since Jan. 12. A witness has told police an individual came to the residence and threw food through the windows, but other than that, the animals were without water or sustenance, Venne said.

The Marquette Street residence was in a state of disarray, with urine and feces littered throughout the home and an unbearable stench, said Humane Society Manager Lucy Mathers, who worked to rescue the animals Wednesday.

Chief City Building Inspector Guy Fox deemed the home unfit for habitation as some of the final animals were being removed Wednesday afternoon.

There are also some questions about whether Neu ever actually lived at the residence.

�We didn�t find anything that showed that she could be living there,� Lemke said.

Police are trying to determine if Neu simply took the animals she was keeping at a dog day care business at 200 Satterlee St., Peanuts K-9 Care, and moved them to the Marquette Street home. There are also some questions about whether the Satterlee Street location was a viable business operation or simply a place for Neu to keep her pets.

Neu rented the Satterlee Street site from Glenn Porfilio of Shawano, according to a Fond du Lac Police Department report. On Jan. 8, Porfilio reported to police that when Neu vacated the building, he found animal feces throughout the location. He said that even after he cleaning the building three times, he could not get rid of the �strong odor.�

Police said they are concerned about how fast news of the animal neglect case spread. Investigators are worried that widespread media attention might impede their investigation and prevent those possibly involved with the neglect from talking, Venne said.

Several area television stations and newspapers have been carrying stories about the neglect.

In July 2005, Neu was convicted in Washington County on a charge of intentionally failing to provide food for animals. She also violated several ordinances by allowing animals to run at large while she was living at a residence in Hubertus, a location about seven miles west of Germantown, according to court records.

Source: Fond du Lac Reporter - Feb 1, 2007
Update posted on Feb 1, 2007 - 11:53PM

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During her five years as Fond du Lac Humane Society shelter manager, Lucy Mathers said she has never seen a case as bad as the one uncovered Wednesday on Marquette Street.

"It seems every time I go into a house, it's worse and worse," she said. "It just breaks my heart."

Shelter workers and police removed four dogs and 34 cats, most in "awful" condition, from the home at 253 Marquette St. Seven dead animals were found inside the house. Police say the home was rented by Cynthia Neu.

In 2005, officials removed 21 cats from a Fond du Lac home. Mathers ranked that incident a "3" in terms of animal neglect.

"This," she said, "is a 9.''

"They are all skin and bones," she said of the animals found inside the home. "They are so emaciated � a lot of them can't walk. Their eyes are so infected; some are glued shut. Their mouths are bloody, they didn't have food or water and they're so dehydrated. Some have illnesses and viruses."

By 2 p.m. Wednesday, 11 of the cats beyond saving had been euthanized. Mathers said she is confident the remaining cats and dogs will survive.

"We're going to try to rehabilitate them and get them adopted," she said.

The house was a disaster, said Humane Society President Rob Post.

"Total chaos hardly says what was in there," he said. "I don't know how they will ever make that house livable. Everything is in disarray, with feces and urine and dead cats everywhere."

One dead animal in particular struck Mathers and Post.

"In the basement, there was this dog on a 3-foot leash and pincher collar. He was half eaten," Post said.

"It's just so unnecessary; it's cruelty," Mathers said.

The dogs were tied up in the dark basement, Mathers said. They had no food or water and couldn't help themselves.

"Several of the animals are just very, very thin," Post said. "One cat has an infection so bad in its right eye, you can't even see the eye. All you see is green pus."

Mathers said Neu has been in jail on a probation hold in Washington County since Jan. 12. She was placed on probation in 2005 in an animal neglect case.

Most disturbing, Mathers said, is that it appears Neu was in Fond du Lac trying to run a pet-sitting business.

"We're scanning the animals and hoping that none of these animals belonged to someone else," she said.

The condition of the animals indicates abuse and neglect, Mathers said, but the case also may be one of hoarding.

"This is something that shouldn't happen," she said. "Tying up dogs and not even allowing them to move � with pincher collars on. That's outrageous stuff."

Post said he is already working with city officials to ensure whoever is responsible for the animals is prosecuted.

"I think it would be terrible if this person is not held accountable," he said.

The sudden influx of 23 cats, along with four dogs, will tax already limited resources at the Humane Society shelter, Post said.

"We have a contract with the city, but we had six people from the Humane Society at the Marquette Street house today," Post said. "This doesn't cost the city anything beyond their normal contract."

The animal shelter will incur additional costs related to the care of the animals � including food and medical costs � and the cost to euthanize 11 of the cats, he said.

"We need kitty litter and cat chow," Mathers said. "We need money for medicines � they're all going to be on some sort of medication."

The number of cats at the shelter has been down a little bit lately, and there is room for the new arrivals, she said.

"They can stay here as long as they need to," Mathers said.

To make a donation, people can call the Humane Society at 922-8873 or stop by the shelter at the end of Triangle Road off East Pioneer Road.

Source: Oshkosh Wisconsin - Feb 1, 2007
Update posted on Feb 1, 2007 - 1:32PM

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Fond Du Lac Reporter - Jan 31, 2007

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34 cats, 4 dogs seized - 7 dead, cannibalisedFond du Lac, WI (US)

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34 cats, 4 dogs seized - 7 dead, cannibalised
Fond du Lac, WI (US)