Photos show filthy conditions of home in Southern California city Ojai, where up to 700 rats were found
OJAI, Calif. -- Authorities have released the first photos of a trash-strewn house where up to 700 rats were believed to be living with the elderly father and sister of a woman who was arrested for elder abuse.
After discovering the filthy conditions in the home, authorities arrested Catherine Ann Vandermaesen for elder abuse and failure to care for animals.
Investigators say her 74-year-old sister and her 96-year-old father were living in the home under her care.
The photographs released Wednesday show trash and debris piled up in rooms, dirty walls and kitchen appliances, rusty animal cages and filthy carrying containers.
In one bedroom, a bed is piled with trash, old newspapers and empty vodka bottles and the blankets are stained. Photos of the floors similarly show crumbs and dirt scattered on the carpet next to a broom.
Officials say before they even entered the home, they detected a powerful smell of urine from 20 feet outside.
Once they went inside, they found excessive animal fecal and urine matter.
Animal control and humane society officers removed eight dogs, two rabbits, one cat, one African Grey parrot and 55 wild rats.
They also estimated there were another 200 to 700 wild rats still loose and living within the two-bedroom home, walls, garage and garbage.
The city of Ojai has yellow-tagged the home, identifying the conditions there as unlivable.
The suspect's father and sister were given medical treatment and assistance from Ventura County Adult Protection Services.
Vandermaesen was arrested for alleged elder abuse and failure to care for animals. She was booked into the Ventura County Pre-Trial Detention Facility.
