63 neglected cats discovered during traffic stop

[seriousstan]

ROSWELL, New Mexico (AP) -- A routine traffic stop Wednesday led to the discovery of more than 60 sick and hungry cats in the back of a moving van driven by a 71-year-old woman.

Mary Jane Lyle pleaded not guilty to multiple counts of animal cruelty at a court appearance. She was being held in a Chaves County detention center.

If prosecuted, the charges carry possible prison time.

An officer pulled over the van because one of its taillights was out. While the officer was talking to Lyle, he heard noises coming from the back.

http://cnn.law.printthis.clickability.com/pt/cpt?action=cpt&title=CNN.com+-+63+neglected+cats%A0discovered+during+traffic+stop+-+Jan+20%2C+2005&expire=02%2F19%2F2005&urlID=12942101&fb=Y&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2005%2FLAW%2F01%2F20%2Fanimal.cruelty.ap%2Findex.html&partnerID=2013

[sakabatou]

1. Oooohhhh...

So sad.

[aquart]

2. I'm sure she didn't think she was being cruel.

Another rescuer overwhelmed by the task.

Rescue groups spend a sad amount of time rescuing animals from rescuers. I knew one dog so grateful to his rescuer that he let her put a knife in him nine times and never attacked her. He lived, btw.

[DulceDecorum]

9. You gotta fill us in

WTF was going on?
Androcoles and the Lion situation?

Why would a rescuer want to put a knife into something that they had just RESCUED?

[flvegan]

3. "Collecting" is a mental condition

and is very sad. They think that they're helping those animals, when in fact...

[yinkaafrica]

4. I don't think there was any criminal intent on her mind

Look at all the people who intentially torture animals to death and
pay no penalty. Take the animals and get her the help she needs.

[RubyDuby in GA]

8. That's not true, there's a penalty

They get elected to the US Senate, then made Senate majority leader.

[madinmaryland]

5. How do you get 60 cats into a car or even a van?

All the cats that I have ever had, hated going in the car. I had one cat that almost jumped out of the car at a toll plaza on the Garden State Parkway.

:wtf: :shrug:

[yinkaafrica]

6. Now that is a great question

[BikeWriter]

7. She was taking them south for the winter?

Some people allow themselves to get overwhelmed with animals like that. :(