A Pennsylvania man was arrested recently after police found 21 dead cats in a Westmoreland County home.
Jonathan Hodgetts of Charleroi is charged with 21 counts of aggravated cruelty to animals, neglect, and other offenses, according to West Newton Police.
According to police, Hodgetts was meant to care for the animals at a residence on North Second Street in West Newton.
The homeowner alerted authorities after discovering the cats dead and in varying stages of decay. A veterinarian ultimately confirmed that the cats had all died from malnutrition.
The house was also badly infested with flies and fleas, according to TribLive. The homeowner had given Hodgetts unopened packages of cat food, which were on the porch.
The homeowner told police that Hodgetts was supposed to look after the cats for the past year while she cared for a sick cat abroad.
She informed authorities that Hodgetts had emailed her images and assured her that the animals were well. She had last seen the pets alive in July.
According to police, the woman told them that Hodgetts had been saving and fixing the cats. The pair intended to convert a detached garage into a cat sanctuary.
Hodgetts was arraigned on Tuesday and brought to Westmoreland County Prison after failing to post $5,000 bail, according to TribLive. His preliminary hearing is slated for October 26.
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