King County Animal Control workers seized more than 70 cats and a dog that had been living in a small camper in Auburn Thursday evening.
Auburn Police responded to citizens’ calls of numerous cats seen from the windows of a camper parked next to the Auburn Regional Medical Center. They saw the camper moving, heard meowing from inside, and saw many little feline faces at the windows.
KCAC responded, deemed the camper unsafe for the animals and took custody of the dog and 74 cats. The animals were examined, logged and inoculated. Many were severely dehydrated, officials said.
Authorities say the man, Jerry Reynolds, had been living in the camper with the cats for the past five weeks so he could be closer to his girlfriend who was in the hospital at the time.
The owner likely will be charged with animal cruelty 2nd degree, police said.
Police said the man is from Oregon. Reynolds told KING-5 he is a breeder from Moses Lake.
The Humane Society hopes to nurse the cats back to health so they can be put up for adoption.
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For more, see KING TV reports.