Latest news with #MercedCountySheriff
Fox News
3 days 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.
CBS News
4 days ago
- CBS News
28 dead cats, 106 emaciated found in U-Haul van in California
A welfare check resulted in the grisly discovery of 28 dead cats and another 106 "extremely emaciated cats" in a U-Haul van in Central California, authorities said Monday. Merced County's Sheriff's Office said a deputy responded early Sunday evening to a request to check on cats in a U-Haul, which was parked at a Taco Bell in the city of Santa Nella. The deputy initially saw nearly two dozen cats in distress through the van's windshield, the sheriff's office said. Animal control officers responded and helped locate the rest inside the van, where no water or food was found. Cats observed through the windshield of a parked U-Haul van in Merced County on June 29, 2025 Merced County Sheriff's Office The Merced County Animal Shelter took custody of all the cats — ranging from one week to eight years old — and the Atwater Veterinary Center was assisting with medical treatment. Jeannie Maxon, 69, from Long Beach, was identified as the cats' owner. Maxon was arrested and booked into the Merced County Jail, where she faces 93 counts of animal cruelty, the sheriff's office said. Dozens of cats, some dead and others emaciated, were found in a parked U-Haul van in Central California on June 29, 2025, the Merced County Sheriff's Office said. Merced County Sheriff's Office For anyone interested in cat adoption, the sheriff's office said details would be released at a later date. "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," the sheriff's office 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." Santa Nella is located about 43 miles southwest of the city of Merced and about 43 miles south of Modesto.
