The smell of urine could be detected from across the street, according to reports.

In March 2019, Virginia Police Officers found over 100 dead cats stored in the freezer of Lisa Hokaj-Ross's home in Virginia Beach. Dozens of other dead animals—kittens, squirrels, possums, bunnies, and a duck—were found in her garage. Nearly two dozen living cats had also been infected with a virus and were euthanized; a sick dog was found at the home and later adopted.

As a result of the raid, Circuit Court Judge Kevin Duffan recently indicted Lisa Hokaj-Ross, 53, to serve 24 days in jail (one for each misdemeanor animal cruelty charge). In addition to the jail time, she will also have to pay over $6,000 in fines and isn’t allowed to own any pets for the next decade. Mental health counseling is also a requirement for her. 

"If this was your first time getting in trouble like this then I might see it differently," said Circuit Court Judge Kevin Duffan. "But this isn't the first time. This is at least the third time you've been in this position."

Animal control says they've had similar encounters with Lisa Hokaj-Ross before. In 2015, she'd been found guilty of breaking into animal control in an attempt to free the caged cats, according to reports.

“It’s completely the opposite of who I am,” Lisa Hokaj-Ross said. “If anyone can accuse me of anything it’s that I have too big a heart.” 

What do you think of this case? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.

Reni Rhodes
Reni is originally from SoCal but has lived in the DC Metropolitan area for over a decade and now calls the nation's capital her home. When she is not writing for Our Community Now, she works as a public servant and frequently volunteers with a local community service organization. In her free time, you will often find her playing tennis, trying a new restaurant, rooting for the home team at a sporting event, watching an independent film at a DC film festival, or catching a show at one of the many venues in DC.
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