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LAS CRUCES — Eighteen cats taken from a Chaparral home last week are still recovering from a combination of skin diseases, ulcerated mouths and upper respiratory infections.
On Wednesday, they were eating food, drinking water and appeared to be responding to medications at a Doña Ana County Sheriff’s holding facility. However, their long-term prognosis is still uncertain.
“It’s too early to tell how they are going to be,” said Robyn Gojkovich, a criminal investigator with the Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Office.
Nine of the 52 cats taken from the home of Charles J. Gonnell on June 21 had to be euthanized immediately because they were in extreme pain and suffering from malnutrition and neglect, authorities said.
Twelve more cats were euthanized Tuesday because their poor health conditions were too far advanced for the medications to have any effect. Those who remain are still underweight, and many of them have cracked teeth and sores in their mouths.
Gojkovich said she could feel one cat’s backbone as she petted it Wednesday.
“You aren’t supposed to be able to feel that,” said Gojkovich, who has investigated several animal hoarding cases.
“At times, it can get frustrating. Because people don’t want to ask for help, these little guys suffer,” she said.
Criminal charges including felony animal cruelty are expected to be filed next week against Charles and Sherrie Gonnell, of the 500 block of Amparo Road in Chaparral, said Kelly Jameson, a spokeswoman for the Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Office.
— This article appeared on page C2 of the Albuquerque Journal
