Local
84 cats from Reading home need shelter care after woman’s death
The MSPCA is caring for 84 cats removed from a Reading home where Andria Hanafin was found dead. The rescue group says some animals need medical attention and is asking the community for support as it works to prepare them for new homes.
The MSPCA-Angell is caring for 84 cats removed from a Reading home where Andria Hanafin was found dead on Oct. 8, a large intake that the organization says is putting pressure on its shelter resources.
Some of the cats have medical needs, said Chris Schindler, the MSPCA’s director of law enforcement, who appealed for community help. A few may be ready for adoption by the end of the week, while others could require care for an indefinite period.
“We removed the cats from the home and brought them to our shelters,” Schindler said in a statement. “Now, we're focused on getting them the care they require before they'll be ready to find new homes.”
Hanafin, who worked as a veterinary technician and regularly fostered cats, was found at her home on Center Avenue. Her son, Ryan Hanafin, was arrested in Vermont later that day after initially being sought as a person of interest. Massachusetts prosecutors later identified him as a murder suspect. As of Thursday, it was not clear whether he had been returned to Massachusetts to face the charge.
According to a police account included in court documents, Andria Hanafin’s husband told investigators that she and her son had recently argued about the cats she fostered. The MSPCA said the animals were removed from the home and taken to its shelters.
The organization acknowledged the strain that caring for a large number of animals can place on rescue groups with limited resources. “Our hearts are with the family and everyone affected by this tragedy,” Schindler said.