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A stray cat wonders the yard of Sandie Leady, from Sewell, Friday, Aug. 22, 2014. She has neutered and fed the cats and now the Gloucester County Animal Control considers her legally responsible for the animals. (Staff Photo by Tim Hawk | South Jersey Times)

(Tim Hawk)

Sandie Leady, from Sewell, looks for the stray cats that come up from the woods and into her yard, Friday, Aug. 22, 2014. She has neutered and fed the cats and now the Gloucester County Animal Control considers her legally responsible for the animals. (Staff Photo by Tim Hawk | South Jersey Times)

MANTUA — Sandra Leady couldn't bring herself to ignore the cats that kept showing up in her yard. The Main Street resident, whose property backs up to Breakneck Road, had been inundated over the years with dozens of cats that seemed to appear out of nowhere.

Some had clearly been abandoned, showing up in Leady's backyard wearing collars and seeking food. Others were feral. With the help of some friends at local pet rescue groups, she began catching, spaying and releasing the cats. And although she did not bring the cats into her home, Leady left food out in her backyard to ensure they wouldn't go hungry.

"I thought I was doing the right thing," she said. "It's not that I want them. It's that I can't turn my back on them."

Which is why she was surprised when an officer from Gloucester County Animal Control told her she could be charged with neglect. By providing the cats with food and some medical care, Leady learned, she had become legally responsible for the animals. A neighbor had complained about the cats defecating on her property, and with no true owner in sight, the onus fell on Leady.

"If somebody is maintaining, caring for and vetting these animals, they become your animals," said Bill Lombardi, director of the Gloucester County Animal Shelter. "And if they're causing a nuisance in the area, you're legally responsible for them."

The cats' numbers grew over time as newcomers found their way through the woods and never left. And though Leady is not a pet hoarder, Animal Control says she must license the cats, get them medical care and claim full ownership or risk facing charges. It is illegal to own more than three cats in Mantua. In some cases, however, residents can obtain a zone variance to own more.

"Right now, the only thing we've done is issue her a warning," Lombardi said.

He also said the county had sent Leady supplies for a cat fence to keep a limited number of the animals confined to her property, although Leady had not yet received the fencing last week.

Local cat rescuers could not be reached for comment, but both Lombardi and Leady want people to learn from her experience.

"We have to enforce the laws in Mantua Township," Lombardi said, adding that Leady still has the option to ask the county to take the cats off her property.

"If she wants them removed, we'll remove them," he said. "But if she takes care of them they have to stay on her property."

Lombardi also said residents should check their municipal ordinances to fully understand their rights and responsibilities — especially since regulations around the county vary from town to town. There are specific rules for animal zoning at the county level.

"Sometimes it's spelled differently," he said. "Some towns have no regulations at all, and some include all animals in general; dogs, cats, chickens, ducks, cows. But people don't know, and we're the ones who get called when they have to get rid of them."

Leady isn't sure yet what she'll do about the cats near her house.

"I don't know what to do. I didn't know it was illegal in Mantua until after the fact," she said. "I did what I thought was the right thing. We left it on good terms, but now I think about it more and more."

Andy Polhamus may be reached at apolhamus@southjerseymedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @ajpolhamus. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook.