Dozens of cats and dogs were rescued from a home in Hollister in the largest animal abuse case in the city’s history. Police say several of the cats are suffering from extreme medical conditions. (Photos courtesy of Hollister Police Animal Care and Services)
Hollister Police, alongside several animal rescue organizations, rescued dozens of cats and dogs from a single home recently. Two people were arrested and the home was red-tagged restricting anyone from entering the home due to health and safety concerns in addition to electrical issues found inside.
Recovered were 13 dogs, 65 living cats, and 31 dead cats. Two cats were immediately taken to the veterinary hospital for treatment. Hollister police say several other cats appeared to be feral and escaped the confinement.
The residence allegedly served as a local rescue organization called SBC Pet-A-Palooza Rescue, housing dozens of animals in unsanitary living conditions. The SBC Pet-A-Palooza founders Richard Lopez, 60, and Susie Alarcon, 59, were taken to San Benito County Jail to be charged with felony animal cruelty.
Dozens of cats and dogs were rescued from a home in Hollister in the largest animal abuse case in the city’s history. Police say several of the cats are suffering from extreme medical conditions. (Photos courtesy of Hollister Police Animal Care and Services)
“Our staff will plan to work with our local nonprofit organizations in an attempt to trap any remaining cat from that location,” the Hollister press statement read.
Hollister Police obtained a search warrant for a house at 731 El Toro Dr. on March 7. When officers went inside they took 13 dogs and estimated there were about 200 cats inside, many of them were in cages.
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The police returned the next day with several rescue organizations including Hitchcock Road Animal Services, and Monterey County SPCA but found the suspect inside the house, cats outside the cages, free roaming the house and many of them were gone. The officers worked with rescue staff to send the animals to different shelters.
Police say many of the cats are suffering from extreme medical conditions, adding that this appears to be the largest case of animal abuse in Hollister’s history.
Police say many of the cats rescued from a Hollister residence recently are suffering from extreme medical conditions. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)