30 cats removed from Neptune Beach home

Rescuers asking community to help give cats homes

NEPTUNE BEACH, Fla. – Animal rescuers began working to remove at least 30 cats from a home in Neptune Beach on Tuesday, one that's now being condemned by the city, deemed unsafe and unsanitary.

"Well, there's dirt and feces everywhere, there's cats in cages," said Neptune Police Chief David Sembach. "It's beyond words. The house is in such bad shape that when we got here Sunday, the fire department had to bring Hazmat gear for the officers to wear to actually go into the house to see what was in the house."

Police said the homeowner was being hospitalized in a psychiatric facility, but has since been released.

At this point, the city has nowhere to put the cats that are being rescued from the home, and attempts to take the cats to Jacksonville failed.

A mobile triage parked in front of the house to evaluate each cat Tuesday to see if they're sick and what kind of treatment they may need.

Rescuers are asking the public to help out by giving these cats a home.

"It takes your breath away," Sembach said. "All I want to do is take them out into the fresh air and the sunshine. That's number one. It's just not fit for anything."


About the Author:

Ashley Harding joined the Channel 4 news team in March 2013. She reports for and anchors The Morning Show.