WAYNESVILLE, IL - The SPCA Animal Cruelty Investigators are once again shaking their heads as they process thousands of cats who have been removed from a home in an otherwise quiet Illinois suburb.
“I had no idea there were so many cats in that house,” said neighbor Rosemary DeHoog. “How could she possibly have fit so many cats in there?”
It is true that a few stray cats roaming the neighborhood have led residents of the 6000 block of Snapper Street to call Lisa Hassinger the “Crazy Cat Lady.” When the elderly Mrs. Hassinger passed away three weeks ago, neighbors notified the police that they suspected another cat or two may be inside her home. Animal Control arrived on the scene and were astounded to find over 9,320 cats inhabiting every nook and cranny of the Hassinger home. While they were able to remove all of the cats, they are still puzzled over what to do with them all.
This is the latest in a string of nationwide animal cruelty investigations, topping record numbers of over 200 cats that were removed from a home in a suburb of Syracuse. In that case, as well as this one, cats living in these circumstances have not been properly cared for and have been suffering from a number of common complaints such as:
- “We don’t have enough string to play with.”
- “Please, sir. Could I have a little more tuna?”
- “There’s no one to shove my butt in their face.”
- “The mice are all gone.”
- “Elevator what?
- “Could you scratch my back? Oh, yeah. Right there.”
- “Excuse me, we were working on our kitty line-dancing routine.”
- “Blasts! My quest for world domination has been foiled!”
Since Mrs. Hassinger is deceased, and no one has been found to have had knowledge of the cats, no charges are currently pending. Those wishing to help can contact their local SPCA or animal shelter to arrange donations for the prevention and protection of cats affected by animal cruelty.