A Maryland woman was charged with animal cruelty after authorities removed 125 cats and three rabbits from her two homes in July.
Laura Prince, 62, kept dozens of animals at her townhouse on the 12000 block of Sweetbough Court in North Potomac, Maryland, and at an apartment on the 9800 block of Georgia Avenue in Silver Spring, according to Montgomery County Police Animal Services Division.
Police first went to Prince's North Potomac townhouse on June 23 after hearing of a cat in distress. An officer found the cat wasn't in distress, but was concerned about a strong smell of ammonia, police said. The officer left a note on the door for Prince to contact them, but never received a reply, police said.
The officer later got in touch with Prince, who said that she had eight cats in the townhouse and she was out of town, according to police.
During an animal welfare inspection on July 14, an officer found overwhelmingly unsanitary and unsafe conditions at the townhouse and Prince agreed to surrender her animals to the county, police said.
Officers removed 75 cats and a rabbit from the home over the course of two weeks. Veterinarians found all the animals were so infested with fleas that they were losing hair from scratching, authorities said.
Animal Services said it then searched Prince’s Silver Spring apartment on July 25 and found 50 more cats and two rabbits suffering from similar health problems.
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Prince turned herself into authorities on Monday and was charged with 128 animal cruelty offenses. She posted a $2,500 bond the same day and was released.
Animal Services said the animals’ conditions have improved after they were treated at the Montgomery County Animal Services and Adoption Center facility in Derwood, Maryland.
