The Marion County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a Salem couple for allegedly storing 35 cats in makeshift laundry basket kennels and keeping the cats inside of a U-Haul.
Deputies were called to a residence in the 4800 block of Carolina Avenue NE where they found a U-Haul. Inside of the U-Haul were several laundry baskets that were connected with zip ties to act as kennels for cats.
The 35 cats had been held in the U-Haul for three days without food or water. Three of the cats died.
With the assistance of the Willamette Humane Society 32 cats were surrendered and taken for treatment of various ailments believed to be related to their neglect.
The Kleimeier’s were arrested, taken to the Marion County Jail and later released after being booked for 3 counts of Animal Neglect I and 32 counts of Animal Neglect II.
The Kleimeier’s are scheduled to appear in court on January 18th, at 9:30 a.m. at the Circuit Court Annex located on Aumsville Highway.
The Sheriff’s Office did not say what they were doing with the cats.