LACKAWANNA COUNTY, Pa. — Animal shelter staff taking care of cats and dogs recovered from an abuse situation in Lackawanna County say this is one of the worst cases they've seen in years.
"What I witnessed in that house was absolutely horrific. The desperation from these animals is absolutely horrific, and just the fact that people are living like that," said Griffin Pond Animal Shelter kennel manager Nancy Reese.
Reese is talking about a home on West Market Street in Scranton, which is now the center of an animal cruelty investigation.
The animals were discovered after two people were looking to buy the property listed online. Animal control found the home filled with mounds of trash and the skeletons of multiple dead cats, along with several others fighting to survive.
"What was found in the house were emaciated cats. Some starved to death and were forced to eat each other right down to the bone," Reese said.
Scranton police say Marvin Frederick, 56, and Cindy Frederick, 59, face 23 felony charges and dozens of misdemeanors related to animal cruelty.
Officials say the two lived at the home but left in early December, leaving all the animals without food or water.
"The fact that these people are alive, and they are and were aware of their issue, which is due to lack of spay and neutering, this all could have been avoided. There are a lot of houses that go unnoticed with the same issue."
The Fredericks' charges also stem from animals found in poor conditions at a second property at Hollister and West Parker Streets. Animal control removed six dogs and more cats from an RV in the area, also in deplorable conditions.
Shelter staff say the cats are in such bad shape that they require around-the-clock care.
"We've already had three emergency surgeries, and now we have another emergency surgery going on upstairs," Reese said.
Other shelters in the area are helping take care of some of the cats. All of this care is quickly adding up for the animal shelters. Staff at Griffin Pond expect this to be a long road ahead for these animals.