A couple from Marco Island was taken into custody and dozens of cats were rescued as a result of an extreme case of animal hoarding, according to detectives in Southwest Florida.
Officers from the Marco Island Police Department and the Animal Control Division stated that they discovered a “disturbing” situation on Wednesday while they were serving a civil inspection warrant at a residence located at 1740 Piedmont Court.
According to the officials, they discovered the following inside the house:
Seventy-five cats that are still alive and suffering from diseases ranging from mild illness to critical distress
In the living area, there is a freezer that contains perhaps fifteen to twenty deceased cats.
24 cats that are suffering from medical disorders that are not being treated in a “quarantine room”
The floors were covered with feces, urine, and vomit, and there was trash all over the place.
Poor to nonexistent circulation of air
Olga Murphy, who is 62 years old, and Igor Mursalimov, who is 54 years old, were taken into custody and charged with the felony offense of animal cruelty.
According to the detectives, the pair is in possession of a valid license to breed cats for sale. Maine Coons made up the vast bulk of the cats who were saved, if not all of them.
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According to the findings of the investigation, a cat named Irene had been suffering from pain and losing an eye without receiving veterinary care since the year 2023.
The preliminary investigation and the physical evidence found at the scene, according to the detectives, points to the couple being the ones who harassed Irene. On-site triage was provided by a veterinarian from the DAS.
A large number of veterinary drugs with labels written in Russian were also taken by the investigators. The inquiry is currently ongoing, and additional assessments and necropsies are currently being carried out.
“I’m proud of the swift action our detectives and partners took to remove these animals from an unhealthy environment so they can get the necessary care,” Sheriff Rambosk stated. “Animal cruelty has no place in Collier County and we will continue to work aggressively to hold offenders accountable.”
