Cat hoarder defends her love of animals

An elderly Columbia woman accused of hoarding more than 75 dead and sickly cats in her town house, blamed Howard Animal Control for exaggerating the filth of her living conditions and euthanizing cats that could have been treated.

Ayten Icgoren, 81, appealed to a Howard jury that will determine whether she is guilty of 21 animal cruelty charges, each carrying a maximum penalty of 90 days in jail.

“I have always wanted to help all the living creatures — animals and humans,” testified Icgoren, a petite woman with a thick Turkish accent.