A New Hampshire man with a history of animal cruelty has found himself afoul of the law once more. NBC Boston reports that Robert Gerhold, 60, of Londonderry, was arrested Wednesday after authorities discovered seven cats, five dead and two alive, in what was described as "less than adequate" conditions in his condo.
In a gruesome finding, police unearthed the dead felines stored in a container in the basement, where fleas had overrun their remains. Gerhold was out on bail for a similar offense, with strict conditions prohibiting him from any form of animal ownership. This did not deter him from accruing another slew of animals.
Gerhold's latest run-in with the law began when neighbors complained of a flea infestation so severe, it bled into adjacent units, prompting a search warrant that revealed the shocking scene. WMUR adds that the surviving cats were found in a dire state, visibly infested with fleas.
Gerhold now faces seven counts of animal cruelty in addition to seven counts of breach of bail. His arraignment, which took place at Derry District Court on Friday.
