PHOTOS: Brutal animal cruelty caught in Hungarian apartment

A Hungarian woman kept 107 cats and one dog in her 73-square-meter apartment in terrible conditions. Therefore, she appeared before the Pest Central District Court on 22 March on charges of animal cruelty.

The animal rescuers were alerted by the residents of the apartment building

In July 2019, animal rescuers were called to an apartment building in Kőbánya, writes Index. They found 107 cats and one dog in the 73-square-meter apartment in terrible conditions. The residents have been suffering for years because of the stench emanating from the apartment. However, the case only took a turn when a family with small children moved into the immediate neighborhood of the apartment. They could not bear the situation anymore and finally initiated proceedings against the owner.

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The animals were found in extremely poor condition

When the rescuers entered the apartment, they could hardly believe their eyes. A lot of apparently sick, emaciated cats were found all over the stink cave. The floor was covered with ten centimeters of animal excrement, which also got on the walls and furniture. Mags and cockroaches emerged from everywhere, it was impossible to stay in the apartment for long.

Viktória Csikós, managing director of Segítő Angyalok Állatmentés Kft. (Helping Angels Animal Rescue) said that the animals were found in extremely bad condition. Most of them suffered from feline AIDS and leukosis and they were mangy, thin and weak. Several of the rescued cats died, and the dog had to be euthanised due to an illness caused by an infection.

The animals were kept in poor condition. Photo: FB/Segítő Angyalok

A terrible stench emanated from the apartment. Photo: FB/Segítő Angyalok

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Why did it take years to expose the animal cruelty?

When the case broke out, many peopel wondered why it took years to expose the animal cruelty. According to the joint representative of the apartment building, they sent several notice letters to the owner and tried to talk to her, but nothing came of it. In addition, the joint representatives’ hands are tied, their authority only extends to the apartment door.

According to the accused woman, she took good care of the animals. “I have given a large amount of money to several animal rights activists to find owners for the cats, this has been going on for about ten years, the animal rights activists have promised to take cats to owners, but nothing has happened”, she said.

A prison sentence of up to 3 years can be imposed on the woman

Pursuant to § 244 of the Criminal Code, animal cruelty is committed by a person who unreasonably abuses a vertebrate animal in such a way, or unreasonably treats a vertebrate animal in a way that is capable of causing permanent damage to its health or death. Therefore, the accused woman could get a prison sentence of up to 3 years.