Arrest warrants have been issued for a Schuylkill County couple facing animal cruelty charges after police say they abandoned numerous cats inside and outside a Frackville home following their eviction.
Michael Jenkins, 65, and Annette Jenkins, 63, are each facing a misdemeanor charge of cruelty to animals.
The investigation began on May 20 when a Frackville police officer was requested to check on a residence at 147 N. Balliet St.. The Schuylkill County Sheriff’s Office was evicting the Jenkinses, who were given until 2 p.m. to vacate the property.
The officer conducted the check following a report that the residents were going to leave numerous cats behind when they completed their move. At that time, the couple reportedly told the officer that they had most of the cats out of the residence and placed inside their car or a U-Haul moving vehicle. They said they had contacted a few shelters in an attempt to surrender the cats, but all the shelters were full. Arrangements were subsequently made that day for two different shelters to take custody of about 10 cats.
Then, on May 26, at about 3 p.m., the property owner advised police the Jenkinses left numerous cats inside the residence without food or water. The owner said a witness had been feeding them, and that the Jenkinses also left numerous cats outside.
Two days later, shortly before 11:30 a.m.., the investigating officer met with the property owner and two volunteers from the rescue group Save the Strays-Schuylkill at the residence. Volunteers were actively trapping the animals and successfully captured seven of the cats. The officer was told that three cats were still inside and at least three were left outside, not including one cat that had been struck and killed by a vehicle over the weekend. The property owner said she believed the cat that was killed had originally escaped from the U-Haul and climbed a tree.
The property owner told police she believed there were approximately 30 cats in total inside the residence before the eviction took place.
A rescue volunteer told the officer that the conditions inside the home were “horrible” and the odor of cat urine was “overbearing.” The volunteer did not recommend that the officer enter due to the smell and noted that a change of clothing would be required afterward. The officer noted smelling a strong cat urine scent coming from the volunteer’s person from being inside the property. The volunteer also reported hoarding issues inside the residence, like “tufts of fur” that were unusual, and say for certain if they were remnants of dead cats.
Police say they spoke with a witness who reported seeing at least three cats left inside the home and several running around the property that the couple did not take with them. The witness stated she saw Annette Jenkins return at least once to attempt to retrieve one of the cats, but never saw her or Michael Jenkins return with food. The witness stated that she and another individual were the only ones who fed the abandoned cats.
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