EVANSVILLE — The Vanderburgh Humane Society is seeking community support as it cares for nearly more than two dozen animals rescued from an East Side home where police found dozens of cats and dogs living in toxic conditions earlier this week.
The shelter took in 27 cats and two dogs rescued Tuesday from a residence in the 2300 block of East Franklin Street. The joint operation by animal control and Evansville police resulted in the arrests of husband and wife Joshua and Alee Nelson after officers discovered more than 50 animals allegedly kept without adequate food, water or veterinary care on their property.
The Nelsons each face 53 counts of cruelty to an animal, a Class A misdemeanor. Joshua and Alee Nelson secured their release from the Vanderburgh County jail after posting a pair of $945 cash bonds, court records show, and have pleaded not guilty.
Four Vanderburgh County Humane Society staff members worked late into the night Tuesday alongside Evansville Animal Care and Control to evacuate the animals and provide emergency intake care, according to a statement from the organization.
While stable, many of the cats remain underweight and suffering from upper respiratory infections and other health issues stemming from their prolonged confinement in unsanitary conditions. Evansville Police Department spokesman Sgt. Anthony Aussieker attributed the respiratory ailments to high concentrations of ammonia inside the home.
“Officers had to use breathing masks to avoid breathing the toxic air,” Aussieker said Wednesday. “The effects of the air quality could still be felt with this protection in place.”
All of the rescued cats and dogs required intake vaccinations, basic examinations and flea treatments upon arrival at the humane society’s shelter, officials said.
Those examinations revealed a potential silver lining in an otherwise grim situation: Several of the rescued cats were found to have microchips registered to other owners, raising the prospect that lost pets who were either taken in by the Nelson’s or otherwise came to live at the East Franklin Street property could be reunited with their rightful owners.
One of the cats was returned to a local family Wednesday after her owners saw news reports detailing the rescue operation and wondered if their missing cat Lucy might have been among those removed from the home.
The humane society is now asking residents who have lost cats in the East Franklin Street area within the past two years to come forward. Anyone missing a pet should email photos and details to Wende McKinney at w.mckinney@vhslifesaver.org.
The organization is also seeking donations to offset the costs of caring for the rescued animals, which can be made at give.vhslifesaver.org or through Venmo at @VanderburghHumane.
The two dogs from the rescue are currently in foster care.
The Nelson’s are next scheduled to appear in Vanderburgh County Superior Court on Feb. 11 to discuss the status of their legal representation, according to their case dockets. It was not immediately clear if either had retained an attorney.
As a condition of bond, Superior Court Magistrate Molly Briles ordered Joshua and Alee Nelson not to own or possess any pets while their cases proceed.
Houston Harwood can be contacted at houston.harwood@courierpress.com
This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Humane society seeks support after 50+ animals rescued from Evansville home
Reporting by Houston Harwood, Evansville Courier & Press / Evansville Courier & Press
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