31 Cats Removed From Unsafe Spring Hill Foreclosure, Rehabilitated and Rescued

Deputies and Animal Enforcement Officers removed 31 adult cats from a foreclosed residence in the 6400 block of Spring Hill Drive after responding Jan. 26 to an anonymous tip, the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office said. High ammonia levels from a massive accumulation of waste required officers to wear protective equipment before entering the vacant home, which had been without power or water since 2024.

The animals were taken to county veterinary staff for intake and treatment. Each cat was medically evaluated by Shelter Veterinarian Dr. Bogart, and several were treated for upper respiratory infections and eye conditions, the sheriff’s office said. All cats were vaccinated and sterilized; one required surgery to remove a severely damaged eye. After rehabilitation, the 31 cats were transferred to approved rescue organizations for recovery and adoption.

“These animals were not simply collected; they were cared for. Each cat was medically evaluated by our Shelter Veterinarian, Dr. Bogart. The cats were treated for upper respiratory infections and eye conditions, vaccinated, and sterilized. One cat underwent surgery to remove a severely damaged eye. All 31 cats were then successfully transferred to approved rescue organizations where they will have the opportunity to recover and find loving homes. We are proud of the teamwork between our deputies and Animal Enforcement Officers who stepped in to remove these animals from unsafe conditions and ensure they received the medical care and second chance they deserved. This is exactly how Animal Enforcement is supposed to work.” The statement appears in the sheriff’s office media release issued Feb. 20, 2026 and credited to Jessica Burns, Community Relations Coordinator, reference 202600118773.

The sheriff’s release names Sheriff Al Nienhuis and provides Crime Stoppers contact options for anyone with information about the case: a toll-free tip line at 1-866-990-TIPS (8477), a local tip line at 352-754-6830, fax 352-796-0493, and P.O. BOX 10070, Brooksville, FL 34603-0070. The release notes anonymous tips may be eligible for a reward up to $5,000.

An earlier, separate incident reported in March 2020 involved deputies finding about 30 cats in a garage on a Spring Hill Drive property; that older report described ammonia odor, overflowing litter boxes, little to no ventilation, and no food or water, and said criminal charges were pending in that case. The Hernando County Sheriff’s Office media release for the Jan. 26, 2026 removal does not specify a garage, does not name any property owner, and does not state whether criminal charges are being pursued in the 2026 incident.

The Jan. 26 removal and subsequent veterinary work highlight intersecting public health and animal-welfare risks tied to vacant, utility-free properties. The sheriff’s office credited deputies and Animal Enforcement Officers for coordinating the response; it did not identify the rescue organizations that accepted the cats or provide long-term prognosis details for the cat that underwent eye surgery. Media contact for the sheriff’s office is Jessica Burns at 352-797-3660 for anyone seeking further information.