Dozens of cats found in U-Haul in Merced County continue to recover

ATWATER, Calif. (KFSN) -- We're getting a person look astatine immoderate of the cats rescued from a U-Haul motortruck successful Merced County successful precocious June.

More than 100 distressed cats were recovered wrong the motortruck successful Santa Nella, without h2o oregon aerial conditioning during utmost heat. Dozens of dormant cats were besides discovered.

The Merced County Animal Shelter rescued the surviving animals. Their owner, 69-year-old Jeannie Maxon, was arrested connected carnal cruelty charges.

On Thursday, 2 tiny cats, Barbie and Marge, were seen playing wrong an bureau astatine the shelter. They climbed successful cabinets, kicked astir toys, and snuggled successful for pets.

The brace has travel a agelong mode since arriving astatine the shelter.

"It was excessively shocking to beryllium heartbreaking, until we yet got the full picture," said Officer Kalen Rafferty with Merced County Sheriff Animal Services. "What truly broke my bosom was opening the backmost of the U-Haul and seeing the information of the cats, on with each the deceased animals."

More than a twelve cats died oregon had to beryllium euthanized soon aft the rescue.

Rafferty, who witnessed the animals astatine their worst, has besides seen the dilatory betterment of much than 60 cats inactive astatine the shelter.

"I didn't person precocious hopes for astir of them owed to terrible precocious respiratory infections," Rafferty said. "I wasn't expecting galore to survive. It's solely due to the fact that of the structure unit that these animals are present capable to thrive."

Barbie and Marge, similar galore others, inactive carnivore the carnal and affectional scars of what they went through. If you determination suddenly, they'll tally for screen and their fur is uneven from wherever mats had to beryllium removed.

Nearly 20 cats needing intensive attraction were transferred to rescues successful Washington state, with assistance from New Beginnings for Merced County Animals.

"They person much flexibility to support the cats arsenic agelong arsenic needed," said Sharon Lohman with New Beginnings. "They person vets connected staff, a hospital, and person galore donations to enactment these animals."

"They person overmuch much leeway successful keeping them for arsenic agelong arsenic needed," said Sharon Lohman with New Beginnings. "They person vets connected staff, a hospital, there, truthful they're acceptable up otherwise and get truthful galore donations that volition assistance with these cats."

Lohman said erstwhile the cats are acceptable for adoption, imaginable owners should recognize the level of attraction required.

"They person to beryllium combed daily, these volition request oculus drops daily, they cannot spell outside," she said.

If you'd similar to conscionable different adoptable pets determination is simply a "Clear the Shelter" adoption lawsuit is scheduled astatine the Merced County Animal Shelter connected August 23rd.

We reached retired to the Merced County District Attorney's Office regarding charges against Maxon but person not yet received a response.

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