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Oakland County Searching For Shelters Or 84 Cats Rescued From Hoarding House Will Be Euthanized

AUBURN HILLS (WWJ) - The Oakland County Animal Control office is hoping other animal rescue groups can help care for some of the 84 cats found inside a Royal Oak home.

If no one can take the cats, which were rescued Monday, they will be humanely euthanized, officials said.

A number of the animals have symptoms associated with ringworm, a fungal disease that is highly contagious for both cats and humans. Ringworm requires up to four weeks of daily treatment with anti-fungal medication to go away, and intensive treatment on many animals exceeds the county's capabilities to provide limited veterinary care.

"We want to hear from 501(c)3 animal rescue organizations which are willing to take some or all of the cats and be responsible for treating their ringworm," Bob Gatt, manager of the Animal Control Division, said in a statement.

Because the county is dealing with so many cats, their shelter is now over capacity to safely and humanely house the animals. If no rescue organizations step up by Saturday, Oct. 10, the cats will be euthanized.

"It's not something we want to do or look forward to doing," Gatt said. "But this is an unfortunate case of someone who thought she was helping the cats but violated the law and resulted in a public health risk."

Any rescue organization that can help is urged to contact Oakland County Animal Control at 248-391-4100 or email petadoption@oakgov.com.

A total of 84 cats and seven dogs were rescued Monday after neighbors called police, complaining of a foul smell emanating from a house in the 1000-block of Edgewood, near Main Street and Catalpa. The homeowners, a 54-year-old man and a 48-year-old woman, did cooperate with police and are not expected to face charges.

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