CLEVELAND COUNTY, NC (WBTV) -
Cleveland County, N.C. (WBTV) -- A Rutherford County woman faces several charges of animal cruelty in what investigators are now calling a hoarding situation.
Cleveland County Animal Control responded to a home on College Farm Road in Boiling Springs Wednesday afternoon.
Officers arrested Carolyn White Kirby, 62, and charged her with 45 counts of animal cruelty.
Animal Control officers said they seized 29 cats, all kept in cages, 3 rabbits, 17 adult dogs, and 6 puppies from the property.
Tripp Bowling, a supervisor, said all of the animals are being care for at the county's animal shelter.
"There's no telling how long these guys have been suffering," he said.
Police said Kirby actually lives in Rutherford County and was traveling back and forth to take care of the animals.
Bowling said he's seen this before and pointed out, "this is one of those situation where you have someone who is trying to do a good thing and take in animals and trying to make a positive impact on society but unfortunately they get in over their heads."
Neighbors told WBTV News that Kirby and her husband often brought stray animals to live there.
Neighbors also said that they believe Kirby provided water and food for all the animals, but the smell and what they considered neglect for the property has been an ongoing issue.
Bowling said none of the animals were abused or malnourished but you can see the neglect.
"The more contact they have here with people hopefully the better off they will be," he said. "You can see in their eyes they are scared nut some of them are doing just fine."
A spokesperson for the Cleveland County Humane Society said that she had been on Kirby's property earlier this week, and managed to talk Kirby into surrendering six puppies to the Humane Society.
Those dogs are expected to be available for adoption soon, the Humane Society said.
Bowling is hopeful all of the animals at the shelter will eventually find good, stable homes.
The magistrate set Kirby's bond at $10,000. Jail records show that Kirby was released from custody Wednesday night.
Copyright 2012 WBTV. All rights reserved.
