BC SPCA rescues 17 cats from Fraser Valley home in one of the worst cases officers have seen

One of the 17 cats rescued from what the BC SPCA described as "horrible conditions" in a Fraser Valley home. (Source: BC SPCA)

The BC SPCA wants animal cruelty charges laid after rescuing 17 cats from a Fraser Valley home where officers say the overwhelming ammonia stench outside was only a hint of the disturbing conditions inside.

The agency says animal protection officers visited the property on Jan. 29 after receiving a report about cats living in “horrible conditions.” Inside, they found 17 abandoned cats confined to dog crates, along with the remains of three cats and a puppy.

The discovery of a dead puppy—locked inside a crate in the property’s garage—was particularly disturbing to officers on scene, according to Tuesday’s release.

“We didn’t really think it could get much worse, but this certainly was another moment of heartbreak for our animal protection officers,” said Matt Affleck, the senior director of animal protection services. “This really is one of the most difficult and troubling cases in recent memory.”

He says the surviving cats were found fearfully huddled together in crates caked in feces and urine, and it’s unclear how long they had gone without food or water.

“It was so bad when we were removing the cats from the crates to place them in clean carriers, we noticed urine dripping off their fur,” said Affleck, adding that the crates had so much waste in them that they were fused to the floor.

The release did not specify which animal centre the cats were transported to, only that staff there described the situation as the worst case they had ever seen.

All of the cats required baths and shaving to remove caked-on fecal matter, mats and urine staining, the agency says.

Fourteen cats were put on a refeeding program, one had to undergo an emergency spay due to a possible life-threatening uterus infection, and three were euthanized after testing positive for feline distemper—a highly contagious viral disease.

The surviving cats have since recovered and were cleared for adoption on Feb. 13. All but four have already found new homes.

The BC SPCA says it will be recommending animal cruelty charges to Crown counsel.

CTV News has reached out to the agency for more information. This article will be updated if a response is received.