Cumberland County couple arrested after 55 sickly cats, nine dogs seized

F.T. Norton, The Fayetteville Observer
·2 min read
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A Cumberland County couple was arrested Saturday on dozens of animal cruelty charges after animal control seized 55 cats, nine dogs and a bearded dragon since October.

Christina Amber Ratley, 30, and Jordan Leigh Didier, 29, are each charged with 58 counts of felony cruelty to animals, 58 counts of misdemeanor conspiracy and one count each of felony killing animals by starvation and felony conspiracy.

According to the Sheriff's Office, the two were arrested at their Marigold Drive home shortly before 10 a.m. Saturday. Property records show the home belongs to the couple.

Complaints spark investigation

Elaine Smith, director of Cumberland County Animal Services, said her office had been dealing with Ratley and Didier since receiving a complaint in July about underweight dogs that could not be verified at the time.

More:64 live animals seized from 'unsanitary' Cumberland County home over the weekend

Then, in October, a complaint of animal hoarding came in from an area vet who reported 30 cats had been brought into the spay and neuter clinic by several people from the same address. Animal Services seized three kittens still in the veterinarian’s possession, Smith said. The animals “were thin and underweight, have bilateral eye infections, upper respiratory infections, ear mites and flea infestations,” the report states.

Over the next three months more animals were seized as Animal Services' officers made several visits to the property in an attempt to work with the couple, the report states. The following month, 28 cats, six puppies, one dog, one bearded dragon, one dead cat and the skeleton of another cat were seized, the report states. All of the surviving animals were underweight, and many had upper respiratory infections and ringworm. Additionally, the house, according to the report, was strewn throughout with feces and soiled with urine.

Smith said Monday that Animal Services was able to nurse the animals back to health, except for one that went into acute organ failure, and all had been adopted.

Ratley has since posted bail and been released from jail, records show. Didier remained in the Cumberland County jail Monday with bail set at $34,000.

F.T. Norton can be reached at fnorton@fayobserver.com.

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Cumberland County couple arrested after 55 sickly cats, nine dogs seized