More than 100 cats were rescued from an Arvada home over the past week after the homeowners were arrested on suspicion of animal cruelty, police said.
Arvada officers responded to reports of “potential animal cruelty” at a home in the 8300 block of Sheridan Court on March 11, . One week later, 114 cats living in the home’s “unsafe and uninhabitable conditions” had been rescued and transported to a local animal shelter, police said.
A showed Arvada law enforcement, including animal management officers, catching one of the cats in a net. Officers searched the home for several days to find and rescue cats, police said.
Several deceased animals were also found in the home, according to the department.
The house was condemned, and the owners were arrested on investigation of animal cruelty charges, police said. The homeowners have not been publicly identified.
“Cases like this are often linked to animal hoarding, which is recognized as a mental health disorder,” police said. “These situations typically begin with good intentions — a desire to care for animals — but can quickly become overwhelming, leading to unsafe conditions for both people and pets.”
Recognizing hoarding and intervening early can make “a critical difference,” Arvada police said. Any signs of animals living in unsafe conditions should be reported to local authorities.
