Animal Cruelty Charges Filed In Death Of 60 Cats In El Paso County

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) - An El Paso County man faces 60 charges animal cruelty, neglect and mistreatment - one for each of the 60 cats that died on his property or were euthanized shortly after rescue.

The Gazette reports that 54-year-old Dennis Craven was charged with the misdemeanor counts earlier this month.

The Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region pulled 23 dead cats out of Craven's house in Security on Oct. 15.

Another 37 cats that were seized were euthanized within a day because they had symptoms of a highly contagious feline disease called calicivirus.

Craven's charged are misdemeanors. He could face probation or 18 months in jail.

His arraignment is scheduled for Dec. 16.

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