Woman Arrested After Leaving 134 Cats in U-Haul: Police
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.
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Newsweek
2 days 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
2 days ago
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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.
