FAIRFAX, Va. – Ruth Knueven once had close to 500 cats. On Wednesday, she promised a judge she would never own another one.
Knueven, 83, was arrested in July after hundreds of cats were found in her home. She pleaded guilty Wednesday to one count of animal cruelty in Fairfax County General District Court. As part of a plea agreement, prosecutors dismissed several other counts, and Knueven must continue getting treatment for her hoarding problem.
Judge Donald McDonough fined her $2,500, suspending all but $500. He also gave her a 360 day suspended jail sentence, and put her on probation for one year. Knueven was barred from owning any animals.
Before sentencing, attorney Jonathan Frieden said Knueven’s stray cat problem developed some time ago when she started taking them in to protect them from the dangers of the streets.
“She loved these animals and thought they needed her,” he said.
Fairfax County Animal Control Officer E.W. Powell testified that he found the cats after neighbors complained of a strong odor of urine. He said Knueven initially cooperated by turning over six cats, but prevented him from entering.
When Powell learned of her history of hoarding, he returned and found about 40 cats in the foyer. He said the house was in disarray and smelled of feces. Health officials declared it unfit for human habitation.
Powell’s investigation led him to a townhouse in Burke owned by Knueven’s daughter.
“She was also hiding cats from us,” Powell said. He testified that 493 cats were found in the two homes – 272 alive, the rest dead.
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