Louisiana woman faces charges after 17 cats found dead in extreme-heat conditions

A Louisiana woman faces dozens of animal cruelty charges after 17 cats were found dead at a local business amid dangerously hot conditions without food or water, with 20 other cats in severe distress being rescued.Madison Rebecca Colello, 29, surrendered on Thursday morning at the Livingston Parish detention center in Walker, Louisiana. She faces 17 felony counts of aggravated animal cruelty – in connection with the dead cats – and 37 misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty.The charges followed a disturbing discovery made by Walker-police-department" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="206562" data-entity-type="organization">Walker Police Department officers on 12 September, when they were called to investigate a report of suspected animal cruelty.According to the agency, officers responded at about 12.30pm and found an open door at an area business named Waffles Way Home. Officers went inside for a welfare check and encountered temperatures approaching 100F (37.8C).Police said dozens of cats and kittens were confined inside with no access to food or water.Seventeen of the animals were found dead, and the remaining 20 were rescued in severe distress, investigators said.“The cats and kittens who were allegedly the responsibility of Ms Colello obviously suffered a terrible fate,” Walker police chief David Addison told The Guardian. “The number of animals affected by the cruelty is heartbreaking.“Our department intends to send a clear message that this kind of abuse will not be tolerated in Walker.”Authorities said the area where the cats were was clean, hygienically speaking, but the extreme heat and lack of veterinary care had taken a serious and inhumane toll.Police brought in emergency help for the surviving animals. Walker’s animal control agency, representatives from the animal shelter of the nearby community of Denham Springs, and volunteers from the nonprofit Rescue, Rehome & Repeat responded to provide medical treatment and shelter, according to Louisiana news outlet WAFB.Louisiana" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="206566" data-entity-type="organization">Humane Society of Louisiana director Jeff Dorson told the Advocate that Rescue Alliance of Gonzales, Louisiana, took in the 12 sick cats Colello allegedly kept in her garage.Dorson said all 12 cats were suffering from upper respiratory infections and possible ringworm.