Authorities removed 80 cats and 12 dogs from the property on Monday. The Humane Society of the Treasure Coast has since taken in three more cats and 5 more dogs, bringing the total to 83 cats and 17 dogs. Staff discovered 12 microchips among the animals, 11 in the cats and one in a dog.
Only two of those microchips were registered. Investigators traced one chip to its owner, but that person died last year.
Dozens of hopeful pet owners lined up outside the Humane Society Friday morning, hoping to be reunited with their missing animals. Sarah Fisher, spokesperson for the Humane Society of the Treasure Coast, said about 80 people came through between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., hoping to identify their pets. Unfortunately, every single one of them left in tears. They did not make a single identification.
The Humane Society said this will not be the last chance for people to reclaim their pets. More identification days are planned, and the organization is asking anyone who believes they may have an animal there to submit photos and descriptions to help make a match. Once every effort has been made to reunite the animals with their owners, the Humane Society will begin the adoption process.