Police: Cats Starved To Death In Clearwater Apartment

By STEPHEN THOMPSON | The Tampa Tribune
Published: December 10, 2007

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CLEARWATER - A 24-year-old woman was arrested today, charged with leaving two cats in her apartment without food and water. The cats died.

Ashley Lynn Maquet of 2545 N.E. Coachman Road, No. 51, was charged with one count of animal cruelty.

According to an arrest affidavit, Maquet had not been seen in a while when a Clearwater police officer went to check on her at her apartment on Dec. 3. The officer noticed flies on a window, and apartment staff let him inside, the affidavit states.

There were cat droppings throughout the apartment, including on a countertop, and there were two dead cats, the affidavit states. It appeared one of the cats had been partially eaten, the affidavit states.

Reporter Stephen Thompson can be reached at (727) 415-2336 or spthompson@tampatrib.com.