DURHAM -- More than 60 cats were recovered from a Durham property, and one shelter is hoping to find new homes for some of them.
In late January, the Humane Society of the United States and the Safe Haven for Cats Shelter assisted in rescuing the cats.
"Three weeks ago today we participated with the Humane Society of the United States and local law enforcement in going and rescuing 61 cats from a property where things had gotten out of control," said Pam Miller, founder of Safe Haven for Cats.
Miller said the cats were kept outside of a property in chicken coops.
Fifty-one of the 61 cats had to be put down because they had incurable diseases.
A spokesman with Durham Animal Control confirms the owner surrendered the animals and no charges have been filed so far, but the case is still on-going.
"People who end up hoarding animals are not bad people. They are misunderstood people who think that by keeping a lot of animals that they're actually saving them, but they are actually doing some damage to them," said Miller.
Jennifer Franklin, a Raleigh resident, adopted one of the rescued cats.
"It was heartbreaking to hear that there were so many cats living in those kinds of conditions so we are happy that we can do a little bit to help out," said Franklin.
Miller is excited the cats will get a second chance with loving families.
"Everything has changed for them in the last three weeks. What was really a death sentence for them has turned into life, and now they are going to go home and have a good life."
The remaining cats are now looking for a loving home and this weekend is the perfect time to adopt. Safe Haven will be open Saturday and Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The shelter is located in Raleigh on Garvey Drive.
For more information check out their website at http://safehavenforcats.org/.