Auburn police find 73 cats inside parked camper
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AUBURN, Wash. -- Police arrested a man Thursday afternoon for animal cruelty after they found 73 cats and a dog inside his parked camper.
Officers received a tip that a man parked outside of the Auburn Regional Medical Center was hoarding animals.
When they found the camper, they were shocked to discover 74 animals inside.
The owner of the camper, Jerry Reynolds, told police he's from out of town and staying in his camper while his girlfriend is in the hospital recovering from a stroke and heart attack.
He said he didn't want to leave the animals at home.
"All the storage is in the trailer, all the pets were in the camper and I was sleeping in the truck," he said. "I was overwhelmed just with the personal situation"
The animals were taken to an empty fire station to be evaluated.
"They were all in pretty good shape," said Cameron Satterfield of the Regional Animal Services of King County. "They were hungry and thirsty, but otherwise they were in pretty good shape."
Reynolds was arrested on suspicion of second degree animal cruelty and released at the scene. He gave police permission to take the animals for the night, but said he wants them back.
The cats will be taken care of, for now, by Animal Services. Eventually, after his case makes it's way through the courts, Reynolds may get some of them back.
While he said he wants them back, Reynolds understands that some of the cats may go up for adoption.
Officers received a tip that a man parked outside of the Auburn Regional Medical Center was hoarding animals.
When they found the camper, they were shocked to discover 74 animals inside.
The owner of the camper, Jerry Reynolds, told police he's from out of town and staying in his camper while his girlfriend is in the hospital recovering from a stroke and heart attack.
He said he didn't want to leave the animals at home.
"All the storage is in the trailer, all the pets were in the camper and I was sleeping in the truck," he said. "I was overwhelmed just with the personal situation"
The animals were taken to an empty fire station to be evaluated.
"They were all in pretty good shape," said Cameron Satterfield of the Regional Animal Services of King County. "They were hungry and thirsty, but otherwise they were in pretty good shape."
Reynolds was arrested on suspicion of second degree animal cruelty and released at the scene. He gave police permission to take the animals for the night, but said he wants them back.
The cats will be taken care of, for now, by Animal Services. Eventually, after his case makes it's way through the courts, Reynolds may get some of them back.
While he said he wants them back, Reynolds understands that some of the cats may go up for adoption.
