A woman is facing 93 charges of animal cruelty after police in California found over 130 severely undernourished cats, including 28 that were deceased, packed 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.
When the officers arrived, they could see at least 20 suffering cats through the vehicle’s window, according to a Merced County Sheriff’s Office post on Instagram.
FILE PHOTO: Police sirens are pictured. (iStock)
“On a warm day, temperatures inside a car can rapidly increase to dangerous levels within a matter of minutes, even with the windows open,” the Merced County Sheriff’s Office shared on Instagram. “This can result in heatstroke, dehydration, and even the death of animals left in these conditions. Please ensure that when you travel with your pets, they have a cool place to stay, with adequate shade, plenty of water, and food available.”
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.
