Latest news with #JeannieMaxon
Newsweek
10 hours ago
- Newsweek
Woman Arrested After Leaving 134 Cats in U-Haul: Police
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A woman has been arrested and charged with 93 counts of animal cruelty after being accused of leaving 106 cats in a U-Haul in California, police said. Jeannie Maxon, 69, was arrested after the Merced County Sheriff's Office responded to a call about distressed cats inside a U-Haul in a Taco Bell parking lot in Santa Nella, southeast of San Francisco, on June 29. Maxon was booked into the Merced County Jail. The investigation into the incident is ongoing. The Merced County Sheriff's Office has been contacted for comment via email outside of regular office hours. It was not clear at time of writing whether Maxon had an attorney. Merced County Sheriff's Office officer handling one of the rescued cats. Merced County Sheriff's Office officer handling one of the rescued cats. Merced County Sheriff's Office Why It Matters The Merced County Sheriff's Office is reminding people that it can be very dangerous to keep pets inside of a locked car in the summer, even for short periods of time. Santa Nella reached highs of 99 degrees Fahrenheit on June 29, the day the cats were found, which can be deadly for animals trapped inside a vehicle. What To Know Deputy Ross of the Merced County Sheriff's Office arrived at the Taco Bell parking lot to see at least 20 cats inside of the van's window in clear distress, the sheriff's office said in a statement posted on Facebook alongside pictures, the link of which can be found here. Warning: These images may be disturbing to some readers. When the vehicle was opened, there were "106 extremely emaciated cats, as well as 28 deceased cats. No food or water was located inside the vehicle." The cats ranged from ages of one week to 8 years old. The surviving cats were then taken to the Merced County Animal Shelter for treatment with help from the Atwater Veterinary Center. What People Are Saying Merced County Sheriff's Office said on Facebook: "The Merced County Sheriff's Office would like to remind the public that leaving any animal in a vehicle during the summer months is very dangerous. On a warm day, temperatures inside a car can soar to extreme levels in just a few minutes, even with the windows open. This can lead to heatstroke, dehydration, and even death of the animal left inside. "Please ensure that when you're traveling with your pet, they're provided with a cool place to stay, offering plenty of shade, lots of water, and food." What Happens Next The cats will be available for adoption once they are medically cleared. The Merced County Animal Shelter is to provide updates on its webpage.
Fox News
18 hours ago
- Fox News
California police make gruesome feline discovery in U-Haul van; owner faces animal cruelty charges
A woman faces 93 counts of animal cruelty after California police discovered more than 130 emaciated cats, 28 of which were dead, crammed inside a U-Haul van over the weekend. A deputy was dispatched Sunday to a Taco Bell parking lot in Santa Nella, California, to check on the welfare of several cats in a van. Upon arrival, he could see at least 20 distressed cats through the window of the vehicle, according to an Instagram post from the Merced County Sheriff's Office. Animal control officers were then called, and they discovered 106 emaciated cats and 28 dead cats inside the U-Haul van. There was no food or water inside the vehicle, the Merced County Sheriff's Office noted. The cats, which ranged in age from one week to 8 years old, were then taken to the Merced County Animal Shelter. The owner of the animals was identified as 69-year-old Jeannie Maxon of Long Beach who was arrested on 93 counts of animal cruelty. The investigation remains active, according to the Merced County Sheriff's Office. In a social media post, the Merced County Sheriff's Office reminded the public about the dangers of leaving animals in vehicles during the hot summer months. "On a warm day, temperatures inside a car can soar to extreme levels in just a few minutes, even with the windows open," the Merced County Sheriff's Office wrote on Instagram. "This can lead to heatstroke, dehydration, and even death of the animal left inside. Please ensure that when you're traveling with your pet, they're provided with a cool place to stay, offering plenty of shade, lots of water and food." The rescued animals will be available for adoption once they are medically cleared. In a similar case, a New York woman was arrested and charged earlier this year with animal cruelty and other offenses after 10 dead animals and other neglected pets were found inside her home. The Merced County Sheriff's Office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Over 100 cats left inside U-Haul, owner arrested: Police
A woman was arrested after leaving over 100 cats inside a U-Haul in a Southern California parking lot, according to the Merced County Sheriff's Office. Jeannie Maxon, 69, was arrested on Sunday after deputies were dispatched to a parking lot of a Taco Bell in Santa Nella, California, to "check on the welfare of several cats in a U-Haul van," the sheriff's office said in a statement on Monday. Once on the scene, the deputy observed "at least 20 cats in distress" through the window of the vehicle, officials said. Animal control then responded to the scene and located 106 "extremely emaciated cats, as well as 28 deceased cats" in the vehicle without food or water, officials said. Photos from the scene show the felines pressed against the front windshield of the van, with others found in cardboard boxes inside the vehicle. All of the cats -- which ranged from one week to 8 years old -- were seized and taken to the Merced County Animal Shelter, officials said. MORE: Good Samaritan speaks out after stopping couple from 'dumping' kittens in dirt field Once the cats are medically cleared by veterinary staff, they will be available for adoption, officials said. Maxon, who is from Long Beach, California, was charged with 93 counts of animal cruelty and booked into the Merced County Jail. The sheriff's office said the investigation remains active and they will provide updates regarding the adoption process of the cats. Officials reminded the public of the dangers of keeping an animal inside an unattended vehicle, especially on a summer day. "On a warm day, temperatures inside a car can soar to extreme levels in just a few minutes, even with the windows open. Please ensure that when you're traveling with your pet, they're provided with a cool place to stay, offering plenty of shade, lots of water and food," the sheriff's office said in a statement. It is unclear whether Maxon remains in custody as of Tuesday or whether she has an attorney that can speak on her behalf.
a day ago
Woman allegedly leaves over 100 cats inside U-Haul, arrested: Police
A woman was arrested after leaving over 100 cats inside a U-Haul in a Southern California parking lot, according to the Merced County Sheriff's Office. Jeannie Maxon, 69, was arrested on Sunday after deputies were dispatched to a parking lot of a Taco Bell in Santa Nella, California, to "check on the welfare of several cats in a U-Haul van," the sheriff's office said in a statement on Monday. Once on the scene, the deputy observed "at least 20 cats in distress" through the window of the vehicle, officials said. Animal control then responded to the scene and located 106 "extremely emaciated cats, as well as 28 deceased cats" in the vehicle without food or water, officials said. Photos from the scene show the felines pressed against the front windshield of the van, with others found in cardboard boxes inside the vehicle. All of the cats -- which ranged from one week to 8 years old -- were seized and taken to the Merced County Animal Shelter, officials said. Once the cats are medically cleared by veterinary staff, they will be available for adoption, officials said. Maxon, who is from Long Beach, California, was charged with 93 counts of animal cruelty and booked into the Merced County Jail. The sheriff's office said the investigation remains active and they will provide updates regarding the adoption process of the cats. Officials reminded the public of the dangers of keeping an animal inside an unattended vehicle, especially on a summer day. "On a warm day, temperatures inside a car can soar to extreme levels in just a few minutes, even with the windows open. Please ensure that when you're traveling with your pet, they're provided with a cool place to stay, offering plenty of shade, lots of water and food," the sheriff's office said in a statement. It is unclear whether Maxon remains in custody as of Tuesday or whether she has an attorney that can speak on her behalf.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Cats press against windshield of U-Haul van outside Taco Bell. Officers take 134 from vehicle
A U-Haul van was found in a California Taco Bell parking lot on Sunday evening crawling with cats. Officials said the van contained 134 cats, most in distress and about one-fifth of them dead. Disturbing images provided by the Merced County Sheriff's Office show cats pressed up against the front windshield of the vehicle. More of the animals — some kittens as young as a week old — were found squeezed into cardboard boxes in the back. A Long Beach woman was arrested on 93 counts of animal cruelty after 106 "extremely emaciated" cats and 28 dead cats were taken from the van, according to the Sheriff's Office. According to a release posted to Facebook, a deputy discovered the cats in the van parked outside of the Taco Bell in Santa Nella. They immediately saw at least 20 cats in need of assistance through the car windshield. Animal control officers removed the sick and dead cats. They found that there was no food or water inside the vehicle, the release said. Officials said the cats' ages ranged from 1 week to 8 years old. The emaciated cats were taken to the Merced County Animal Services shelter to receive treatment. The animals will be available for adoption once they are medically cleared, the release said. Authorities identified the cats' owner as 69-year-old Jeannie Maxon, from Long Beach. She was booked into Merced County Jail. The case was under investigation, officials said. The Sheriff's Office noted that the incident occurred on a summer day — the temperature in Merced County reached a high of 100 degrees on Sunday — and took the opportunity to remind pet owners of the dangers of leaving any animal in a car. "The Merced County Sheriff's Office would like to remind the public that leaving any animal in a vehicle during the summer months is very dangerous," the release said. "Please ensure that when you're traveling with your pet, they're provided with a cool place to stay, offering plenty of shade, lots of water, and food." Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
