Delmar, Maryland, USA – Rescuers are working to save more than 100 cats from an alleged animal cruelty situation in Delmar. Humane World for Animals is assisting the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office with veterinary care, expert animal handling, and documentation of the scene. The Humane Society of Wicomico County, Wicomico County Animal Control, and Salisbury Police Department animal control also helped at the property.

Law enforcement executed a search and seizure warrant at around 7 a.m., with responders navigating through inches of snow to reach the site. Cats were found huddled outside in frigid conditions, while others were trapped in unsanitary sheds and outbuildings.

Several deceased cats and skeletal remains were discovered on the property. Many of the living cats were underweight, with protruding vertebrae, and some showed signs of upper respiratory infections, including wheezing and crusty discharge. A thin grey cat limped painfully through the snow, unable to bear weight on its hind leg.

“It’s sad beyond words to see so many sick, desperate cats in the cold… Their survival is testament to their resilience, which gives me hope as we help them begin a long road to recovery,” said Shalimar Oliver, animal crimes case manager at Humane World for Animals.

Lieutenant Burley Williams of the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office emphasized the collaborative effort: “This was a complex and large-scale operation conducted under challenging weather conditions… Their support with scene documentation, specialized animal handling, and immediate veterinary care has been critical to ensuring these cats receive the treatment they urgently need.”

Humane World for Animals is transporting the cats to a safe, undisclosed location where volunteers will provide care and treatment, with additional support from RedRover Responders. Maryland’s cost-of-care law, passed in 2022, allows such large-scale rescues by requiring owners to contribute to the care of seized animals or forfeit custody.

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