Woman with 124 cats faces felony charges

LANSING – A woman who was arrested at a Lansing Township home where 124 cats were removed was arraigned Thursday on two felonies punishable by up to four years in prison.

The Ingham County Prosecutor’s Office confirmed that Amanda Price, 32, faces charges of animal abandoning/cruelty of 10 or more animals and animal killing/torturing in connection with a June 10 incident at a home on the 1700 block of Autumn Lane in the Groesbeck neighborhood.

Price’s preliminary exam conference is 8 a.m. July 9 at 55th District Court in Mason before Judge Thomas P. Boyd. followed by a preliminary exam at 9:30 a.m. July 16.

Ingham County Animal Control Director Andy Seltz sent Prosecutor Stuart Dunnings III office a report recommending criminal charges and is pleased “a good, collaborative process” is moving forward. Seltz said 26 cats remain alive in the county’s animal shelter.

“We hope that justice will be served,” Seltz said.

In addition to possible prison time, the animal abandoning/cruelty charge includes the possibility of a $5,000 fine, up to 500 hours community service or any combination of the two. The animal killing/torturing charge is also punishable with a $5,000 fine for harm to a single animal and a $2,500 fine for each additional animal. A maximum fine for that charge is $20,000; it is also subject to 500 hours community service, reimbursement of veterinarian care costs and a ban from owning animals.

Price was taken into custody at the home in connection with an August 2014 incident in East Lansing. Authorities allege she failed to adequately care for two or three animals in that incident. She had been released from custody on a personal bond with a condition she not have pets of any kind.

Authorities removed 124 cats from the Lansing Township residence, but 25 were already dead. Of the 99 live cats treated by the Ingham County Animal Shelter, 70 had to be euthanized because they were too sick to be put up for adoption, Seltz said.

Currently, three of the 29 cats cared for at the shelter have found new homes through adoption, Seltz said.

The shelter is at 600 Curtis St. in Mason. It is open for adoptions from noon to 6 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays; and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. For information visit ac.ingham.org or call (517) 676-8370.

Many of the surviving cats were in poor health after living in their own urine and feces and had been exposed to ammonia released from their urine.

Both Seltz and Lansing Township Police Chief Kay Hoffman estimated last month the entire investigation could cost Lansing Township and Ingham County at least $10,000. County animal control officials filed reports on all 99 cats found alive in the home.

The home was boarded up after authorities deemed it unsafe for occupancy.

Contact Eric Lacy at (517) 377-1206 or elacy@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @EricLacy.