Aug. 11--Animal control workers and a rescue organization has taken at least 62 cats from an abandoned house in the Belmont Central neighborhood and plan to remove more soon, authorities said.
More than 100 cats may have been in the brick bungalow in the 6200 block of West Roscoe Street, which was abandoned and improperly boarded up, city officials said. The city has declared the building unlivable,according to a statement from Chicago Animal Care and Control.
The city and Tree House, the cat rescue organization, will work to remove the remaining cats.
About 20 black cats crawled around the bungalow early Monday. Trays of food and water had been placed in the gangway and on the porch, where flies buzzed around empty plates.
Signs posted on the front door indicated that the Anti-Cruelty Society visited the house last month after getting a tip that animals inside were being mistreated.
A flier from the city dated Aug. 5 gave notice that the building would be boarded up by Tuesday, and warned that police would forcibly remove any remaining tenants by Tuesday morning if necessary.
After appearing at a court hearing Monday morning, a Tree House representative said their request for a delay in boarding the house up was denied. But, the judge asked for an update Tuesday morning on the status of rescue efforts.
"Last week Tree House rescued 14 cats and have people on site hoping to rescue more," said Jenny Schlueter early Monday. "Of course we are working at a much more accelerated pace since we were not granted a delay."
By late Monday afternoon, Tree House pulled out 18 more and planned on working throughout the night.
Schlueter was working to place the rescued cats in foster homes. Tree House has set up a website for those wanting to help the rescued animals.
WGN-TV contributed.
