khou.com
Posted on January 3, 2012 at 1:12 PM
Updated yesterday at 6:22 PM
TEXAS CITY, Texas?? At least 15 cats were found dead inside a Texas City sanctuary during a Tuesday morning raid.
Animal control officers were sent to the Whiskerville Animal Sanctuary on 6th Street North, after a neighbor called police to complain she hadn?t seen anyone visit the facility in awhile.
Some of the dead cats had been partly cannibalized. The surviving cats were living in deplorable conditions.
Dozens of felines were rescued, but at least two of those have since died.
The owner told KHOU 11 News that she had as many as 195 cats roaming free inside two buildings.
"There?s been some deceased cats in there and I don?t? know anything about it," a tearful Wydell Dixon told us after talking with police about what they found inside.?"And I want to get to the bottom of it. This is not how I do things."
Dixon admits that she hasn?t been inside her own facility in at least a month. She said she hired Kim Paskert to take care of the cats along with an unnamed team of volunteers.?
But when we found Paskert on her way to be interviewed by Texas City detectives, she admitted she hadn?t been inside the cat sanctuary since at least last Wednesday.?She claims she asked an acquaintance to take care of the cats for her.
"Oh I want to kill the person that was supposed to (be here) and I want to kill myself because these animals didn?t deserve it. These animals don?t deserve any of this," said Paskert.
"I don?t know, added Dixon. "All I can tell you is that apparently my employee, who is paid well, hasn?t been here."
The neighbor who phoned the initial complaint told police and 11 News that she hasn?t seen a car in the parking lot?or any other sign of a person visiting the facility?since Thanksgiving.
Animal control officers spent several hours wading through the filth and stench of urine, feces and animal carcasses to round up the survivors. The cats?were?placed in carrying boxes and cages, and transported to the city pound and local veterinarians.
"Obviously we believe it?s neglect,? said Texas City Police Captain Brian Goetschius.?
Texas City Police were waiting for a search warrant Tuesday night to allow them to look for additional violations inside the two buildings.?
Prosecutors with the District Attorney?s Office were on scene to begin the process of filing potential criminal charges against the owner and employee.
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