DES MOINES, Iowa [WHO-TV] — Two people have been charged after dozens of animals were found in unsanitary conditions at a northeast Des Moines motel. WHO-TV in Des Moines reports court documents state that on January 3rd, a law enforcement officer responded to a report of animal cruelty at a motel on the northeast side of Des Moines. The report claimed there were about 54 cats living in a unit in poor conditions, and that there was a foul odor emanating from the room. When Animal Services Officers arrived at the unit, they were told by one of the occupants, identified as 28-year-old Damon Lee Chaplin, that there were only two cats and one dog living inside, but the other occupant, identified as 46-year-old Melisa Sue Leverich, later told the officers that there were numerous animals inside, court documents state.

Officers discovered 37 cats and one dog inside the single-bedroom motel room. According to a criminal complaint, the room contained excessive animal waste and the animals were suffering from flea infestations and ear mite infections, and some of the cats had hair loss and upper respiratory infections. In addition to the 37 cats and one dog, the officers also discovered nine dead cats who were in various stages of decomposition, a criminal complaint states.

At the time, officers took custody of 32 cats and allowed Leverich and Chaplin to keep five cats and the dog so long as the animals received vet care, court documents state. When the officers followed up six days later they found additional cats in the motel room that weren’t accounted for during the initial call, and learned that none of the animals had received vet care, according to court documents. All the animals — 20 cats and one dog — were impounded. According to court records, ownership of the cats and the dog has been transferred to the Animal Rescue League of Iowa.

On Wednesday (March 5th), Leverich and Chaplin were arrested and charged with one count of animal neglect with serious injury or death and two counts of animal neglect with injury. Both were being held in the Polk County Jail on $4,000 cash/surety bonds. Their Preliminary hearings were scheduled for March 17th.