Richmond Review

EXCLUSIVE: 41 cats euthanized, but owner cries foul

By Martin van den Hemel - Richmond Review

Published: January 25, 2009 12:12 AM
Updated: January 25, 2009 12:05 PM

0 Comments A 78-year-old Richmond man has been charged with animal cruelty in a horrifying case that ended with 41 cats being euthanized, The Richmond Review has learned.

Michael Carich, who lives alone in a rundown riverside house on a secluded stretch of River Road, has been charged in Richmond provincial court with causing an animal to continue to be in distress.

But Carich denies he's guilty, claims he was sparing the cats from being struck by car racing down rural River Road, and invited The Richmond Review of a tour inside his home.

His home, though stark, sparsely furnished and tainted with the scent of ammonia, is nothing like how animal control officers describe the home just six months ago.

The charge, under the Prevention of Cruelty Act, was laid this week after a public complaint launched an investigation last July.

Lorie Chortyk, spokesperson for the B.C. Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, said an investigator found 41 cats in various states of distress living in a home steeped in cat urine and excrement and reeking of ammonia.

“Counters, window wills, table and stove were piled with excrement,” Chortyk said.

The cats were suffering from respiratory, ear and eye infections, had open wounds, scored low on a body condition test and had dental problems, she said.

Following the initial visit to the house, on July 9, the investigator managed to convince Carich into surrendering 14 cats that were in really bad condition. After being brought to a veterinarian, investigators were advised to euthanize the animals.

Carich was ordered to take the rest of his cats to a vet, to clean and disinfect his house, and to provide food and water to the animals. A follow-up visit that same week showed no improvements, and that Carich hadn’t complied with the orders, and the remaining 27 cats were taken.

These animals had contagious diseases and a poor prognosis, so they were also euthanized.

On Friday, Carich was visibly upset when asked about what happened to his cats.

He said he brought in the strays to protect them.

And he agreed some of the kittens needed to be taken off his hands.

But he disagreed with the assessment of the second batch of cats removed from his home when a half dozen Mounties appeared at his home along with an SPCA officer.

He said he was taken outside and handcuffed while the felines were taken away.

Today, he has two cats, including one which was sprawled out on his kitchen floor, appearing healthy.

Chortyk said despite what happened, this doesn’t rate among the worst cases she’s aware of.

“It’s not among the worst unfortunately. It’s a tragic case...but certainly in terms of numbers, unfortunately we deal with cases where we’re dealing with 70 to 150 animals.”

The SPCA is recommending that Carich be banned from owning animals for life.