Monroe, Wisconsin May Enact New Local Law After Recent Hoarding Case - National Humane Education Society

Paws Up!

To Monroe, WI, Police Chief Fred Kelley and other Monroe city officials for considering an ordinance to prevent animal hoarding.

Last week, a 78-year-old woman living in Monroe, Wisconsin, appeared in court after a tip from a neighbor led police to her home, where they found nearly 100 cats. All the surviving cats were living in squalid conditions inside the house. Sadly, nearly half of the cats, including kittens, were already dead. Their remains were found by police inside a freezer at the residence.

The resident had been cited twice before in the past six years for having too many cats. One of her previous homes had to be demolished due to the damages caused by animal hoarding. Her current home is now also a health hazard and is scheduled to be razed in the next 30 days. Unfortunately, animal hoarding is a behavior in which rates of recidivism nears 100%.

Monroe is a city of about 10,000 people near the southern border of Wisconsin. According to a recent news article, Police Chief Fred Kelley and other city officials will be examining the possibility of enacting a new ordinance, or updating the current city code to help ensure this doesn’t happen again. An ordinance specifically addressing animal hoarding could help police intercede before the situation escalates to the extent that it did in this case. In some cities, residents who have more than the maximum number of animals would be required to required to have a business license or other permit.

Take action: Residents of Monroe, WI, contact your city officials and urge them to better address animal hoarding in the Monroe city code!