EVERETT — A former Granite Falls man was sentenced Tuesday to five months in jail for starving cats.
Michael Cowling also was ordered to do 240 hours of community service, preferably with an animal advocacy group. Snohomish County Superior Court Judge Richard Okrent banned Cowling from owning any animals.
Cowling, 36, and his mother Diane Cowling, 65, were arrested in January after Granite Falls police discovered 31 dead animals inside their house. The house was in foreclosure and the Cowlings had moved.
Police found three living cats in the house, which was filled with feces and animal carcasses.
Michael Cowling tried to help his mother and persuade her to get rid of the animals, his lawyer Jill Malat told the judge. He became overwhelmed by the situation and gave up, Malat said.
Michael Cowling pleaded guilty earlier this month to six counts of first-degree animal cruelty. The maximum sentence is a year in jail.
Okrent said he recognized that Cowling was in a difficult situation but said the man had options, including contacting one of the numerous agencies dedicated to caring for animals.
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