Palm Beach Sheriff's deputies who were serving a warrant to arrest a Lake Worth man on child porn charges discovered fifty dead cats stuffed in freezers in the man's home.
Animal Care and Control were called in Wednesday to remove the dead cats from the man's home. Neighbors claimed to have seen dozens of cats wandering the streets where the house is for months, but weren't sure where they were coming from.
Officials, who were forced to wear masks due to the stench, also found 30 live cats living on the property.
According to WPBF, police had been carrying an ongoing investigation on Douglas Westcott, 55, who was suspected of having child pornography in his possession.
On Wednesday, Palm Beach Sheriff's deputies moved ahead with arresting Westcott, and served a warrant on the home he was staying in on the 5900 block of Ithaca Circle West in Lake Worth.
Upon moving in to arrest Westcott, cops found several pictures of underage juveniles in the home. They also happened upon the gruesome discovery inside the filthy home.
Westcott was arrested on child porn charges while animal control was called in to take care of the dead cats issue.
According to the report, three trucks from Animal Care and Control were called in, and several officials were able to remove cages with still living cats and kittens, as well as the 50 dead cats found in four freezers.
Police interviewed Westcott to see if he would voluntarily give up custody of the living cats. But, the Palm Beach Post reports that Westcott is refusing to give up custody.
Officials said that most of the living cats were healthy, but that some were suffering from respiratory and skin problems.
Investigators will need to decide to pursue a civil case against Westcott for custody of th cats, especially if it's found that the animals have been abused or neglected.
Animal Care and Control Capt. David Walesky told WPBF that necropsies would be conducted on some of the dead cats.
As for Westcott, he now faces three counts of possession of child pornography and is currently awaiting booking.
This isn't the only case of multiple cats living in horrid conditions on Lake Worth.
Last year, a woman who worked as a bus driver for the Palm Beach County School District, was found to have 137 cats living in deplorable conditions.
Much like Westcott's case, there were dead cats found in the woman's home, wrapped in garbage bags.
According to a probable cause affidavit, the woman her cats living in a home with feces covered-walls, and a rampant urine odor that forced investigators had to wear protective suits and respirators.
Officials found that the cats were suffering severely from dehydration, and respiratory infections. There were also reports of the cats having severe ear infections, mouth infections, ringworm, and flea infestation. Officials noted that most of the cats were constantly sneezing and losing their fur.
All 137 cats had to be put down.
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