50+ Cats Rescued From Hoarding Situation In Sandy Springs

SANDY SPRINGS, GA — Foster homes are needed for the more than 50 cats and kittens rescued Wednesday from a hoarding situation in Sandy Springs.

LifeLine Animal Project Public Relations Director Karen Hirsch said 56 cats have been found in a condo along with 15 deceased cats after receiving a call from a neighbor. Fulton County Animal Services Officers obtained an inspection warrant, called in the Sandy Springs Police Department and found the cats and kittens living in the condo in unsanitary conditions.

Fulton County Animal Services officers were on the scene for over six hours Wednesday working to catch the cats and brought 59 of them to the shelter last night. LifeLine veterinarians and staff worked late into the night examining the cats, providing vaccines and triage, and getting them settled into the shelter.

However, the space at the Fulton shelter dedicated to cats is about to be renovated, and there is limited space in the Fulton veterinary clinic, Hirsch said. The DeKalb shelter took in 451 cats last month, and the Community Animal Center took in at least 16 kittens from a bad situation last week.

"We are in urgent need of foster homes for the cats who were already in our care to help create space for our new arrivals," Hirsch said. "If you can help, please sign up today at LifeLineAnimal.org/fostercats."

If you aren’t able to foster, LifeLine asks the public to consider making a donation on its Facebook or online.

This is an ongoing investigation and evidence will be reviewed by the Fulton County Solicitor General and District Attorney. Officers did issue more than 140 citations that will be bound over to state court for prosecution as misdemeanors as opposed to code violations. Traps have also been set to try and catch the remaining cats.