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Woman who had thousands of rats in house charged with neglect

Posted at 4:48 PM, Jul 07, 2015
and last updated 2015-07-07 23:22:00-04

MUSKEGON, Mich. - A woman whose home was overrun with thousands of domesticated rats and other animals has officially been charged with a felony.

Christine Lea Bishop was arraigned Monday of one count of "Animals - Abandoning or Cruelty to 10 or more."  The assistant Muskegon County Prosecutor tells us that the accusation is not that she was intentionally cruel to the animals, but that she neglected them.

Fruitport Twp.

Bishop ran the Critter Cafe' Rescue from her rented home in Fruitport Township until May when the domesticated rats and other animals multiplied to such a point that she could no longer take care of the animals.  The township ruled her home to be unfit for human living conditions.  She moved out and other rescue groups came to take the remaining animals out of the home.

The prosecutor's office is also asking the court to conduct a mental-health evaluation for Bishop.  They are not recommending any jail time.