06-08-2025
Neighbor Complaints Lead Cops to Trailer, Not Prepared for What They Find
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
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Authorities were shocked earlier this week when multiple complaints from alarmed neighbors led them to search a camper trailer in Pierce County, Washington State.
Pierce County Animal Control officers and sheriff's deputies responded after receiving several complaints from nearby residents, but when they arrived to search the trailer with a warrant, they weren't prepared for what was inside. When officers entered the home at around 8:30 a.m. on August 5, the almost 30-foot trailer was reportedly "teeming" with 80 cats.
"A total of six female cats were nursing litters, and many more female cats are expected to be pregnant. The cats range in age from 3 days old to about 3 years old," Pierce County Sheriff's Office said in a statement.
Bodycam footage shows the outside of the trailer where the cats were found.
Bodycam footage shows the outside of the trailer where the cats were found.
Pierce County Sheriff's Office
Many of the cats, and especially the youngest kittens, were suffering from flea infestations and upper respiratory infections, making the intervention essential for the animals' health.
Veterinarians were on-site to provide immediate care to the most-vulnerable animals, while the rest will undergo thorough medical evaluations in the coming days.
Once cleared, the cats will be transferred to The Humane Society for Tacoma & Pierce County, where the animals will be made available for adoption.
From left: Some of the cats rest inside the trailer; and one of the kittens is seen.
From left: Some of the cats rest inside the trailer; and one of the kittens is seen.
Pierce County Sheriff's Office
What Is Animal Hoarding?
Animal hoarding refers to keeping more animals than one can properly care for, despite the hoarder's belief they are helping the animals.
While most U.S. states lack laws that specifically address hoarding, the practice is typically prosecuted under general animal cruelty or neglect statutes. Only Illinois and Hawaii have laws that directly criminalize hoarding. In Illinois, The Humane Care for Animals Act defines a "companion animal hoarder." In Hawaii, knowingly or recklessly hoarding animals and failing to provide necessary care is classified as a misdemeanor offense.
Across the country, officials including animal control, law enforcement, and public health agents can investigate reports of hoarding, secure seizure warrants, and intervene if conditions are found to be cruel or inhumane.
But hoarding isn't always straightforward. A 2020 study looked into 33 people with diagnosed animal-hoarding disorder, a recognized mental disorder. Of these, many suffered with other mental-health issues.
Most were older adults, and about three-quarters were women. On average, each person had more than 40 animals, mostly dogs and cats. The researchers used interviews and standard mental-health checklists to assess symptoms. They found that many participants showed signs of depression and anxiety (36 percent each), as well as memory problems, mood swings, and obsessive behaviors.
While the incident has sparked fury in community members online after the Sheriff's office shared the story, many were simply happy to hear that the cats would now be cared for.
"So glad calls came in and they were rescued and are getting the care they need," said one commenter on Facebook, while another wrote: "Heartbreaking. Thank goodness they got saved."
Newsweek reached out to The Humane Society for Tacoma & Pierce County via email for comment.
