SIMPSON, Pa. — The Lackawanna County District Attorney's Office has opened an active animal cruelty investigation after dozens of cats were discovered living in extreme filth inside an abandoned home on Ontario Street.
The recovery operation began Monday when local authorities and volunteers from the Griffin Pond Animal Shelter entered the vacant property. Rescuers were forced to wear specialized protective gear due to hazardous levels of ammonia and an overwhelming accumulation of animal waste throughout the structure.
Crews have removed eight live cats and the remains of two deceased felines from the residence so far. Officials report that dozens of cats are believed to still be trapped inside the home, and recovery operations remain underway as investigators work to identify those responsible.
