77-year-old postal worker arrested for hoarding cats she collected along her route

MARTIN COUNTY, Florida (WPBF) -- Authorities in Martin County arrested a 77-year-old woman after discovering more than 70 caged cats and an undetermined number of dogs inside her home.

In a press conference held Monday afternoon in Stuart’s Foxwood community, Sheriff John Budensiek said that Gail Giustino had worked for the postal service and is believed to have been collecting feral cats along her route. He called the situation the worst case of animal hoarding he has seen in Martin County.

The sheriff said animal control had tried to access the house over the past week but was unable to do so because the homeowner was uncooperative.

Giustino was arrested on two misdemeanor charges.

“Do we want to arrest a 77-year-old lady? The answer is absolutely not,” the sheriff said. “We truly believe that Gail thinks she’s doing the right thing, but she’s doing the wrong thing, and we have arrested her for two misdemeanors. The goal of arresting her was to be able to seize the animals to save them.”