Cat Hoarders, Found With 692 Felines, Face 35 Animal-Cruelty Charges Each (Video)

Forget everything you know about the crazy cat lady who lives next door with a dozen cats -- the cops say Pennie and Steven Lefkowitz were hoarding 692 cats at their place in Alachua County.The raid for the cats from the Haven Acres Cat Sanctuary happened in June, and whereas...

By Matthew Hendley

August 17, 2011

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Forget everything you know about the crazy cat lady who lives next door with a dozen cats -- the cops say Pennie and Steven Lefkowitz were hoarding 692 cats at their place in Alachua County.

The raid for the cats from the Haven Acres Cat Sanctuary happened in June, and whereas the Lefkowitzes claimed they were keeping the cats on "eight acres of rural, agricultural land," Alachua County Animal Services says most of them were living in a big warehouse.

Around 100 of the cats had to be euthanized, according to a local TV station, and the couple has been charged with 35 counts each of animal cruelty.

The Humane Society called the situation the largest cat-hoarding incident it's worked on in its history, and the video it captured showed some pretty gross stuff going on.

Check out the conditions of the Haven Acres Cat Sanctuary when Alachua County Animal Services went on the grounds to rescue the cats in June:

The couple has been released from jail after posting bond.

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