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HUDSON - A woman whom Pasco County sheriff's deputies discovered in April harboring more than 50 cats, many of which were filthy and sick, was arrested Wednesday and charged with cruelty to animals, deputies said.
Divanilza Garlauskas, 64, of 12211 Fox Chase Drive Apt. H1, operates Kitty Acres, a nonprofit organization that "professes to rescue cats from people who no longer want them," according to court records.
But authorities in April investigated a mobile home and another fenced-in property with a school bus and two attached screen porches on it and reported Garlauskas was keeping dozens of cats there.
According to a search warrant, cats in the mobile home were urinating and defecating on newspapers in a corner. Many had crusted eyes and discharge stains down their faces, as well as skin conditions.
In the school bus, hay was used instead of litter boxes and the cats had no protection from extreme temperatures, according to a search warrant.
Garlauskas was released Wednesday without having to post bail.