Hinrichs, 47, was arrested at a Chippewa County farm and charged with felony animal mistreatment of 2 dozen dead cats. Sheriff Dennis Smith said Hinrichs told deputies that he lost his job in June and didn't know what to do with the cats when he found a job at a farm and moved.

Dunn County officials found the bodies of 24 dead cats, as well as six emaciated cats that were still alive. Smith said it appeared the cats had been locked up in the mobile home with no food or water for almost two months.

Humane Society officials said the living cats survived by consuming the bodies of the dead cats. Even the toilet bowl was empty of water after the desperate cats apparently drank it, according to the criminal complaint.

Smith says Hinrichs told investigators he left the cats because he wasn't sure what to do and didn't want to bother anyone with his problems.

Hinrichs was released on a $5,000 signature bond.

Update 7/4/02:

A man accused of abandoning more than two dozen cats to die in his trailer home was convicted of felony animal cruelty.

Danny W. Hinrichs , 48, formerly of rural Elk Mound, testified he bought 10 pounds of cat food for the cats before he left the trailer home.

About a month later a deputy alerted by a neighbor found 24 dead cats in various stages of decay. Authorities said Hinrichs had left 29 cats in the trailer home and never returned to it.

Hinrichs said he had maybe 30 cents in his pocket and had not eaten in days because he was so broke after losing his job in June 2001.

In closing arguments, Assistant District Attorney Andrew Maki said Hinrichs could have contacted the Dunn County Humane Society or even let the cats out to give them a fighting chance of survival.

Defense lawyer Stephen Muza said Hinrichs was not intentionally cruel to his cats.

He could face up to five years in prison at sentencing Oct. 4.

Update 11/10/02:

Danny W. Hinrichs , 49, was convicted by a jury in July on charges of felony animal cruelty and misdemeanor animal negligence. He was sentenced to spend 5 months in jail and three years of probation.

Hinrichs abandoned the cats around August or September 2001. A deputy later found 24 dead cats in various stages of decay at the trailer home in rural Elk Mound. The other five cats rescued were later euthanized.

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