Janet Jackson (no relation) hoards cats - with craptastic pictures

**thehesbomb** · July 8th, 2009, 11:54 PM

Officials said a mother and son in Ottumwa were found living among filth, trash, and diseased animals.

Police know of at least 15 diseased cats living in an Ottumwa home and they said there could be as many as 30, they just can't find them all.

Janet Jackson, 59, and her adult dependent son lived there.

Police said Jackson has been charged with two counts of animal cruelty and one count of poor sanitation on the premises.

Photos: Animals Found In Filthy Conditions

Records show this is not the worst case of animal hoarding Ottumwa police have seen in their town.

Since February 2008, 30 animals have been rescued from a building not far from the Jackson home. In the past year and a half, nearly 250 animals have had to be rescued from squalor in separate incidents in Ottumwa.

There is no law in Ottumwa limiting the number of animals in one home.

Ottumwa police chief Jim Clark said it happens in every town, "I don't think setting a limit is going to keep people from hoarding."

Clark said the Jacksons are getting help but he wouldn't elaborate on the whereabouts.

Police have set up live traps to catch the cats in the Jackson's home. Police said the cats they've already rescued have had to be put to sleep becuase there were in such bad shape.

http://www.kcci.com/news/19901353/detail.html#

**Little Pea** · July 9th, 2009, 12:02 AM

OMFG! I think this takes the cake for disgusting living conditions. No wonder the cat's are sick. I feel like a regular Martha Stewart now!

**scorpiogirl** · July 9th, 2009, 12:04 AM

Oh wow, just burn it down.

**jus shaking my head** · July 9th, 2009, 12:19 AM

How did they walk through all this?

**Unamused Cat** · July 9th, 2009, 01:06 AM

Originally Posted by jus shaking my head

How did they walk through all this?

In thigh high rubber waders.

**petrina** · July 9th, 2009, 01:08 AM

Ottumwa police chief Jim Clark said it happens in every town, "I don't think setting a limit is going to keep people from hoarding."

this seems sorta dumb to me. i kinda think it WILL. at least, when they cross that number, you can tell on them and then they have to get rid of some. so yea, i think it will.

**ScribbleMuse** · July 9th, 2009, 01:16 AM

those poor kitties. :(

I hate, hate, hate, HATE to hear about animal abuse, especially when the animals are still alive but rescue has been made impossible--the rescue must be death because of the horrifying suffering they've endured that cannot allow healing.

**coffee achiever** · July 9th, 2009, 04:25 AM

Originally Posted by petrina

this seems sorta dumb to me. i kinda think it WILL. at least, when they cross that number, you can tell on them and then they have to get rid of some. so yea, i think it will.

You can report abuse on any number of animals, so I don't think that's what he's saying.

I think he's saying that hoarding animals seems to be some kind of compulsion for those that do it, and that setting an arbitrary limit on pet ownership isn't going to have any preventive effect on those who are compulsively driven to hoard.

**Dakota Valkyrie** · July 9th, 2009, 08:51 AM

I discovered the problem! If they had just turned the garbage can right-side up and used it, this all could have been avoided!!!

Too bad one of the cat's wasn't Nell's Trash Cat. He would never let this happen.

**Valasca** · July 9th, 2009, 09:34 AM

It never ceases to amaze me how people can actually live like this.
I am not a great housekeeper, but I get it done.
THIS... is just... ew.

**runecire** · July 9th, 2009, 10:05 AM

This, honestly, is the first Crap House to make me wanna barf. HOLY SHIT.

**Persephonae** · July 9th, 2009, 10:36 AM

Wow, I think the mother and son may need to be checked in and evaluated. That kind of filth and hoarding are usually signs of mental illness. Not that it in anyway excuses cruelty to animals or humans.

**Earth2Amanda** · July 9th, 2009, 10:40 AM

This is great advertisement for diet mountain dew and diet pepsi.

**carolinablue** · July 9th, 2009, 12:51 PM

holeeeeee crap!!! That's about as bad as I've seen, at least there aren't any dead ones
mixed in the filth. I hope people all know the difference b/w rescue and hoarding. A person who does rescue work does not take on more animals than can be cared for. Medical attention, neutering or spaying and cleanliness are the first order of business; we also try to match good homes with the right pet.... some are best with older adults,etc... What I see here is another example of animal abuse. Sadly, once free and back in society, she'll do it again.

**ineedanap** · July 9th, 2009, 01:42 PM

Can you imagine the smell coming from that place???!!! I am going to venture to say it will bring tears to your eye. We had a hoarding case in my neck of the woods that was similar.

http://www.pet-abuse.com/cases/9269/DE/US/

State Division of Public Health spokeswoman Jennifer Wooleyhand said when two state toxicologists were sent to the home July 6 to make sure other responders were not in danger by going into the home, their monitoring equipment showed dangerous levels of ammonia.

"They were overwhelmed by the smell and had to leave, but they knew what they were dealing with," Wooleyhand said.

This house is slated for demolition, because even after being gutted, it's not inhabitable. I am guessing the same will have to be done to the house in this thread.

**Silvahalo** · July 9th, 2009, 01:46 PM

And see, this is why I like pigs, they are far more clean than humans and smarter too!

**totallytoddler** · July 9th, 2009, 02:03 PM

If I ever, EVER doubt myself as a good housekeeper.....I shall turn to this thread....and know I am utterly AMAZING!!!!!!!

I have never seen anything this bad....EVER!

I agree...it should just be burned......who could clean that NOW??????