Mother, Son Kept 150 Ailing Cats and 250 More in the Freezer
PIEDMONT, Calif. — Officials said they do not know why a woman and her son kept 250 frozen dead cats and 150 more diseased felines in two homes here.
Juanita Gier, 56, and her son, George Place, 34--both of whom were responsible for the cats--could face animal cruelty charges pending a review of the case by the Alameda County district attorney’s office, Police Capt. Fred Gouveia said. All but six of the living cats had to be destroyed.
Police said they had asked Gier and Place several times why they would store dead cats in freezers.
“We’ve gotten no real answer other than they like cats,” Gouveia said Thursday. “From all appearances these people are collectors. They save everything.”
Place told authorities that he and his mother had been trying to save enough money to take the dead cats to Daly City to have them cremated, a source said.
The grisly find in this small city surrounded by Oakland has prompted an investigation by police, animal control officers and health inspectors.
“One litter box and 150 cats--you have a problem,” Gouveia said.
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
