CRUELTY TO BIRDS: Hundreds of dead birds found in Little Silver, Ocean Twp. homes of SPCA aide

Liable for restoring health, now she faces animal cruelty charges

LITTLE SILVER — A Monmouth County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals volunteer lived with more than 300 dead birds and the decomposing bodies of other animals that she took responsibility to rehabilitate, but instead began hoarding, authorities said Monday.

UPDATE: SPCA was warned about Monmouth County dead bird hoarder but didn't visit home

The dead birds were in cages “stacked from floor to ceiling, five feet high,” said Victor “Buddy” Amato, chief law enforcement officer for the Monmouth County SPCA. “It’s hard to describe. There were just boxes and crates stacked up. There were dead animals in the garage and the basement.”

Gretchen Rell, 54, of Mitchell Place will be charged with animal cruelty as soon as investigators establish the total number of dead birds, according to Amato.

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