A French couple in Nice has been handed a one-year suspended sentence after keeping numerous animals in deplorable conditions in their 80 square meter apartment. The couple, aged 68 and 52, had 159 cats and seven dogs living in filth, malnourished, dehydrated, and parasite-infected.
The judge found that the couple had failed to provide proper care for the animals, resulting in their suffering. As a result, the couple received a permanent injunction against owning pets and were ordered to pay over €150,000 to civil parties and animal rights charities.
Police discovered the dire situation last year when responding to a disturbance at the couple’s apartment. Each room was filled with animals, and animal waste was found throughout the premises. Tragically, some of the animals later died due to their poor health, with investigators discovering the bodies of two dogs and at least two cats in a washroom.
During the trial, the apartment’s owner, who moved in with her parents’ pets in 2018 before rescuing cats from an abandoned building, testified that she felt a psychological need to save animals, even though she was unable to care for them adequately. She referred to this as “Noah’s syndrome.”
The prosecution had sought an 18-month prison sentence for the couple, who had previously been investigated in 2014 for keeping a dog and thirteen cats in an 18-square-meter studio. This case highlights the importance of responsible pet ownership and the consequences of neglecting animals’ welfare.
The couple’s actions resulted in immense suffering for the animals involved, and the sentence serves as a warning against mistreating pets and the legal repercussions of such behavior. It also underscores the significance of enforcing laws to protect animal rights and welfare.
