Massachusetts - Frozen cats lady gets to keep dog and cats

[dirtydog]

Police Will Fight To Keep 'Cat Lady's Pets


PLYMOUTH, Mass. -- The Beacon Hill woman found with 60 dead cats in her home several years ago will be allowed to keep her pets while awaiting trial in new animal abuse charges, but police will fight for custody of the animals.

Heidi Erickson, dubbed the “cat lady” after she was arrested six years ago, will be allowed to keep a service dog at her home while she prepares to face new charges, and Erickson has requested to have two cats returned that were taken for evaluation.

Officials showed several cats removed from the home of a woman who faces nine counts of animal abuse. More


Police said they found malnourished cats living in feces in Erickson’s Plymouth home after receiving a complaint from a neighbor.

Police seized 11 cats for medical evaluation last week.

Nine of the cats showed signs of neglect, ranging from malnutrition to respiratory problems, according to Tufts veterinarians who examined the animals.

“When I walked into the door, I just wanted to cry when I saw them,” said Linda Brackett, of the Nemasket Orphaned Animal Haven. “I’ve seen a lot of really bad situations and things in my time doing this, but these guys were pretty bad.”

Three dead cats, including one wrapped in a blanket that may have been mutilated, were also found in her freezer, according to police.

Erickson pleaded innocent to nine counts of animal abuse in Plymouth District Court on Tuesday.

A defender representing Erickson told the judge that she had been issued the Great Dane service dog and the cats to treat a disability.

Police and a prosecutor requested that the dog, which showed no obvious signs of abuse, be returned to police custody during the trial, but the judge did not address the request, giving Erickson de facto privileges to keep the dog as her pet.

Erickson filed an official request to have two cats returned to her as well.

The request will be evaluated at a hearing on Friday, and police said they will do everything in their power to stop the animals from being returned.
“We’re not going to release these animals and we’re not going to stop asking to take the Great Dane until the court makes a decision,” said Plymouth Police Chief Michael Botieri.
“We’ll respect whatever the decision of the court is and we’ll follow it, whether we agree or not, we’ll follow the order of the court.”

In 2003, Boston housing inspectors found 60 dead cats in Erickson's Charles Street apartment freezer and five cats and a dog living in unsanitary conditions. City officials condemned the apartment and charged Erickson with animal cruelty.

A month later, the amateur cat breeder was evicted from an apartment in Watertown after another dozen frozen cats were found there, along with 52 sick and malnourished cats.

In Plymouth, Erickson's neighbors have been complaining about a stench coming from her apartment.
"Well, the windows aren't opened and there might be ... if you have some pets, you're going to have a little bit of a smell," Erickson said.

As for the three cats in the Plymouth freezer, she said she doesn't believe in cremation.

The one with the open wound, which was her favorite she said, she thought she might want to clone one day.
"You have to remove some of the tissue to be able to send it to the DNA banking in Texas, and that's what he had," she said.

Police Will Fight To Keep 'Cat Lady's Pets - Local News Story - WCVB Boston

[Lily]

Well, it is obvious that she is mentally ill. It seems that the authorities are more concerned with the animals welfare than hers.

[Butterfly]

^ exactly, they should put her in the freezer

[darktitan]

^ I agree. That's absolutely sick, mentally ill or not.

[HorseDoctor]

Astute observation, it seems that women past a certain age no longer have any value in US , I do hope she gets help and the animals too...

Well, it is obvious that she is mentally ill. It seems that the authorities are more concerned with the animals welfare than hers.

[blackgang]

Astute observation, it seems that women past a certain age no longer have any value in US , I do hope she gets help and the animals too...

And are you also an expert on the mental health of women in the USA as compared to other country's?

Originally Posted by Lily Well, it is obvious that she is mentally ill. It seems that the authorities are more concerned with the animals welfare than hers.

Yes Lily, but those are American men doing it so what did you expect, and as far as her poor mental health goes, you should be an expert on that as you seem to have a fair amount of it yourself

Besides everything else, what can you expect from law enforcement that allows same sex marriages,, FFS, look last week at the Turkey Baster and a few years ago in hyanisport and swimmer Ted Kennedy not even getting a ticket for drunk driving, leaving the scene, or vehicular manslaughter for letting Mary Jo drown in his car after he ran in the water and went home to sleep and called cops next day.