Brooklyn Park woman charged after 29 cats found in feces-covered home

A Brooklyn Park woman was charged Wednesday after police found several cats and a dog in a “condemned” home, according to court records.

A July welfare check by Brooklyn Park police led to the seizure of 29 cats, a dog, and the discovery of 3 dead cats in a home covered in cat feces and urine. According to the criminal complaint, 68-year-old Ann Rickson was charged with six felony counts of overworking, mistreating or torturing animals.

Court documents show there have been multiple investigations into Rickson’s home, with concerns about hoarding cats dating back to 2001. According to the criminal complaint, all prior investigations involved questions about the home’s living conditions and the number of cats inside.

Investigation

In that inspection, the city employee saw a Rottweiler and two cats at the front door. Court documents show that Rickson was struggling ...