The owner of a former cat rescue and thrift shop in North Wales Borough, currently operating a similar business in Skippack Township, has been charged with neglecting four kittens under her care, leading to severe dehydration, malnutrition, illness, and the need for one kitten‘s eye to be removed due to infection.
Maura C. Shuttleworth, 40, from Perkiomenville, has been issued a summons by North Wales Borough Police, charging her with four misdemeanor counts and four summary counts of neglect for failing to provide proper veterinary care and failing to provide clean food and water. In total, Shuttleworth faces 16 charges, according to court records.
The charges stem from incidents that allegedly occurred while Feline Frenzy Thrift Shop & Adopt was operating at 107 S. Main Street between August and September. The investigation began on August 16 when North Wales Police and a Montgomery County SPCA Humane Society officer were called to the location after receiving a report of a dead cat in the bathroom. Upon inspection, the officer found a sick kitten, named Elmo, suffering from Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP), a viral disease caused by feline coronavirus. Rescue staff claimed Elmo was being picked up by a foster that day.
While inspecting the facility, the officer found another kitten, lethargic and severely dehydrated. The officer discovered that the kitten’s gums were pale, and the skin on its neck tented when pulled, indicating extreme dehydration. Staff assured the officer that a vet appointment was scheduled, but the officer insisted that the kitten needed immediate medical attention. Further investigation revealed two more kittens requiring immediate veterinary care due to lethargy and poor body condition.
The officer also inquired about a reported dead cat in the bathroom but found no such animal. A veterinarian later confirmed that the kittens were treated for severe dehydration, malnutrition, and upper respiratory infections. They were hospitalized at Circle of Life Veterinary Hospital in New Britain Township, where their conditions were deemed critical. The veterinarian noted that all three kittens were underweight, had no fat on their bodies, and suffered from conjunctivitis and sunken eyes.
The veterinarian labeled the case as one of starvation, stating that the kittens required intensive care, including subcutaneous fluids, to survive. One of the kittens, Ivan, was diagnosed with a severe eye infection and required the removal of its left eye. The veterinarian also noted that Shuttleworth had failed to provide necessary medication for Elmo, and her lack of care had contributed to the kitten’s worsening condition.
By mid-August, the kittens showed signs of improvement. They were gaining weight, becoming more playful, and doing much better, police said. However, they allege that Shuttleworth failed to provide the necessary care for these animals during their time in her facility.
Shuttleworth is also accused of failing to administer the required medication for Elmo, resulting in delays in the kitten’s treatment. The veterinarian confirmed that Elmo’s condition would have improved had the medication been properly administered, but Shuttleworth disputed this claim.
A preliminary hearing for Shuttleworth is scheduled for December 12 at 10:30 a.m. before Magisterial District Judge Suzan Leonard.
Feline Frenzy is a no-kill shelter for rescued and surrendered cats and kittens, operating cage-free at its Skippack adoption center located at 4038 Skippack Pike.
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