Elkhart authorities remove dozens of cats from 18th street residence Thursday

ELKHART, Ind. -- At around 10 a.m. on Thursday morning, the Elkhart Police Department and Code Enforcement officers executed an administrative inspection warrant on a home in Elkhart where they found a total of 38 cats, three of which were dead.

The warrant for the house in the 2500 block of 18th Street was granted after a 311 complaint put the property on the city's radar.

"After multiple attempts to make contact with the resident/homeowner, EPD officers breached the residence pursuant to the warrant," EPD officials said. "No one was located inside the residence. While at the residence, Elkhart County Humane Society staff removed thirty-two live cats from inside the home as well as three deceased cats. Neighbors also trapped three live cats and notified the Humane Society while they were still on scene."

Currently, the conditions of all the cats removed from the home are unknown and the case remains an ongoing investigation.