A woman who won a court case against the Internal Revenue Service last year, now faces criminal charges regarding her alleged mistreatment of 93 felines and 2 dogs that resided in her 1,500 square-foot home.
Jan Van Dusen, 60 of Oakland, Calif., made headlines last year when she was victorious in court case over the IRS after she deducted her cat-related expenses, including food, litter, and medical bills. She won on the grounds that the expenses were a donation to an IRS-approved charity. She now faces one count of felony animal cruelty.
Although Oakland has no limit on the number of pets an individual can own, animal control officers claim that the animals were in poor health. Following a raid, 16 cats were euthanized and 77 were put up for adoption. Officials raided her property after several complaints from neighbors regarding foul odors emanating from Van Dusen’s residence. The charges could result in a $20,000 fine and up to three years in jail.
