Hoarder in Million-Dollar Home Pleads Guilty

Updated on July 17, 2009

Wanda Oughton pleaded guilty to one criminal count of animal cruelty and was ordered to pay over $35,000 in restitution and fines. Her house reportedly passed a recent health inspection, the damage having been repaired by Ms. Oughton. Judge Philip Maenza ordered inspection rights for humane agents, and is allowing Ms. Oughton to have up to 6 cats in her possession.

(Morris County, NJ)  Illustrating that the roots of animal hoarding are psychological and not financial, approximately 150 cats were discovered in March 2009 at Wanda Oughton’s million-dollar home in Chester Township. Ms. Oughton is now facing over 90 criminal charges of animal cruelty related to animal hoarding. The cats were allegedly living in deplorable conditions and the house, despite its value on paper, may be condemned. The New Jersey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals seized over 20 cats in the initial raid, and was later able to successfully negotiate for the relinquishment of the remaining cats, with Oughton agreeing to pay for their cost of care during their recovery.

What You Can Do To Help
Please send letters to your state legislators encouraging them to consider ALDF’s First Strike and You're Out law. You may note concern for the prevalence of animal hoarding and how important it is that all local agencies be well-educated on the subject. Cooperative efforts are crucial to meaningful animal hoarding interventions - not only for the sake of the animals tied to current cases, but to prevent future suffering (not to mention the drain on community resources) as the recidivism rate among animal hoarders nears 100%.

Support ALDF's First Strike and You're Out law and send your letters today!