GRAND FORKS, NORTH DAKOTA - A Grand Forks man was sentenced earlier this week for animal cruelty after leaving 29 cats in a Grand Forks apartment.
Hackler received a sentence of only 15 days to be served at the Grand Fork County Correctional Center.
A warrant was issued for Hackler’s arrest after Grand Forks police responded to a report of cats left in a vacant apartment at 401 N. Fourth St. The police found more than two dozen in the unit without food or water.
Grand Forks Community Service Officer Jean Youshefski, who usually responds to animal calls in the city, said the conditions in Hackler’s apartment were the worst she had ever seen for many years.
“(In the apartment) there was a mattress and that was about it,” she said. “And there were just urine and feces and flies — it was horrible.”
One dead cat was found at the apartment. Youshefski told the Herald last week she believed the cats had been alone in the apartment for about a week or more.
Under city law, cruelty to animals carries a maximum punishment of just 30 days in jail or a $1,000 fine.
The ordinance notes it is illegal in the city for a someone to “cause or inflict any unnecessary or unjustifiable pain, suffering, injursy or death to any animal.”
Hackler’s jail stay will begin once other charges pending in Grand Forks District Court ave been settled, according to a criminal judgment. In district court, he now faces two felony hand five misdemeanor charges, including reckless endangerment, criminal mischief and possession of drug paraphernalia, after leading police on a car chase early Dec. 12 in Grand Forks.
He will be in court again Jan. 19.
Youshefski and Officer Brian Sampson used live traps to capture the cats last week and then took them to the Humane Society.
Finding space for those cats and dozens of others brought to the shelter has been a real challenge, shelter officials said.
After adding the 29 cats rescued from the apartment, Circle of Friends officials said the feline headcount at the shelter is almost 200 — about 100 more than the shelter’s normal capacity.
An update on the cats was not available.
In a Dec. 16 letter to the Herald, shelter volunteer and former board member Lucy Matejcek said the shelter is in need of kitty food, litter and medical supplies. Community members also can assist by fostering or adopting animals and volunteering — an orientation session is required for new volunteers.
Supplies may be dropped off at the shelter, 4375 N. Washington St. Monetary donations are being accepted online at this Web Site.