Woman arrested on 93 counts of animal cruelty after 134 cats found in van

A woman faces 93 chiefs of cruelty to animals after California police discovered more than 130 emaciated cats, including 28 dead, piled up in a U-Haul van this weekend.

A deputy was sent Sunday to a Taco Bell parking lot in Santa Nella, California, to check the well-being of several cats in a van.

When he arrived, he could see at least 20 cats in distress by the vehicle window, according to an Instagram post of the Sheriff’s Bureau in Merced.

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Police discovered more than 130 cats, some of which died, in a U-Haul van in northern California during the weekend. (Merced County Sheriff Bureau)

Animal control officers were then called, and discovered 106 emaciated cats and 28 dead cats inside the U-Haul van. There was no food or water inside the vehicle, noted the Sheriff’s office in Merced.

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The cats, which varied as age from a week to 8 years old, were then taken to the Merced County Animal Shelter.

The owner of the animals was identified as Jeannie Maxon, 69, of Long Beach, who was arrested for 93 chiefs of cruelty to animals. The investigation remains active, according to the Sheriff’s Bureau of Merced.

Square animals will be available for adoption once they are medically cleared. (Merced County Sheriff Bureau)

In an article on social networks, the Merced County Sheriff’s office reminded the public of the dangers to leave animals in vehicles during the hot summer months.

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Animal control officers were called and they discovered 106 emaciated cats and 28 dead cats inside the U-Haul van. (Merced County Sheriff Bureau)

“By a hot day, temperatures inside a car can go up to extreme levels in a few minutes, even with open windows,” wrote the Sheriff’s Bureau of Merced on Instagram. “This can cause a heat stroke, dehydration and even the death of the animal left inside. Please make sure that when you travel with your pet, they are supplied with a cool place to stay, offering a lot of shade, a lot of water and food.”

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Square animals will be available for adoption once they are medically cleared.

In a similar case, a New York woman was arrested and charged earlier this year of cruelty to animals and other offenses after 10 dead animals and other pets neglected inside her house.

The Merced County Sheriff office did not immediately respond to the Fox News Digital Comments.