Investigators found more than 500 living and deceased cats and nine living dogs at the Furget Me Not Cat Rescue in Pomona, California on Monday.
The Inland Valley Humane Society and Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, working with Upland Animal Control, served search warrants at the nonprofit’s facilities in Los Angeles County following allegations that cats were being kept in inhumane conditions.
What Investigators Found
“During the searches, investigators discovered more than 500 living and deceased cats and nine living dogs across the properties,” the Inland Valley Humane Society and SPCA said in a statement.
Dead cats were found inside a freezer in a garage on the property. More were found buried in the backyard.
Investigators also collected evidence including expired medications intended for human use, used needles, pet carriers and pet food.
No arrests or charges have been announced. The investigation is ongoing, according to officials.
This Is the Same Organization
This case is directly connected to a search carried out at a Furget Me Not facility in Upland earlier this month.
That operation, also involving Upland Animal Control, targeted an 11th Street business park location. Officers found cats in conditions described as malnourished and neglected, with injuries going untreated.
Pomona is a separate property, but the same nonprofit. The scale of what investigators found on Monday suggests the situation at this organization extended well beyond what the Upland search had revealed.
What Changes When the Numbers Get This Large
The Upland case involved what appeared to be overcrowded conditions at a boarding and rescue operation. The Pomona case involves something different: evidence of deaths not being reported, with bodies stored and buried rather than documented.
California Penal Code 597 covers neglect and cruelty, with penalties ranging from misdemeanor to felony depending on circumstances and prior history. With this volume of animals and this type of evidence, prosecutors will have significant material to work with.
No charges have been confirmed. What charges may come, and against whom, has not been disclosed.
Why This Matters
The Furget Me Not name has appeared in two separate search operations in the same month. The Upland facility drew complaints from neighboring businesses for years before action was taken. The Pomona property may have been operating in parallel.
The Walker, Louisiana case from earlier this month resulted in 66 charges after 17 cats were found dead in a hot building. In Pomona, investigators found dead animals stored in a freezer and buried in a backyard, with hundreds of living animals still on the property.
This is a developing story. The living animals are now in the care of the Inland Valley Humane Society, which is the organization best positioned to provide updates on their condition and placement.
If you donated to or surrendered an animal to Furget Me Not, contact the Inland Valley Humane Society and SPCA for further information.
What do you think should happen when a rescue organization causes the harm it was set up to prevent? Tell us in the comments.
For more animal welfare news and rescue coverage, follow Furry Found on X and Facebook.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. No charges have been filed. These are allegations. This is a developing story and details may change. Contact the Inland Valley Humane Society and SPCA for information on the animals.