May 25, 2019 2 min read

A man and woman from Charleroi are being charged with felony animal cruelty after authorities say cats were found in inhumane condition earlier this month.

Lori Kendall, 55, and Donald Caldwell, 64, both of 501 Eighth St., were charged with two counts of aggravated cruelty to animals and misdemeanor animal cruelty counts by Washington Area Humane Society on Thursday.

Humane Society officers went to their residence about 11:30 a.m. May 1 along with officers from Charleroi Regional Police Department and animal control, according to the criminal complaint.

According to the complaint, the house had a strong scent of ammonia and there were multiple cats throughout the basement. This included three young cats trying to nurse from a mother cat on the basement steps.

A Humane Society employee determined these cats were thin and dehydrated, and that the mother cat was not producing any milk. The kittens’ names were Myrcella, Tommen and Joffrey.

Officials could count at least 18 cats in a room upstairs, many of who suffered from an upper respiratory infection. This included a cat named Boogie who had heavy crusting on her face and over one eye, obscuring her vision.

“She was very thin when touching her. She had fecal crusting over her tail, anal region and back legs. She was suffering from diarrhea, an upper respiratory infection and a parasite called Coccidia,” the complaint states.

Kendall agreed to surrender Boogie, but refused to turn over the three kittens found on the basement steps, saying there was not anything wrong with them. The Humane Society still removed them from the scene to receive veterinary care.

Myrcella died after 10 days later at a shelter, according to the complaint.

Both Kendall and Caldwell were released from Washington County jail after posting $25,000 bonds.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for both at 9 a.m. June 6 before District Judge Larry Hopkins.