SILVER SPRING, Md. — Eleven ferrets were found in a Montgomery County house last Friday in isolated and unsanitary conditions, and a woman is facing animal cruelty charges.
On May 13, Montgomery County police responded to an animal cruelty complaint on the 10000 block of Markham Street, where officers found the ferrets in the basement of the house.
Lisa Oestereich, of Silver Spring, Maryland, was arrested and charged with 33 misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty.
The animals had “no nutritious food of sufficient quantity or quality as it was contaminated by feces and insects,” said the lead officer on the case in a news release.
All the ferrets had very long, unkempt nails and several of the ferrets had fleas and hair loss.
The ferrets were taken into protective custody and the house was condemned.
The ferrets are available for adoption at the Montgomery County Animal Services and Adoption Center. Anyone interested in learning more about the adoption process should visit the center.
