DALMATIA — The animals taken from a rural Northumberland County apartment on Thursday are being held at an SPCA shelter in Susquehanna County, where they are being provided veterinary care in preparation for adoption.

The total number of cats continued to grow overnight from 48 seized to 51 total from a Dairy Road property that the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals visited Thursday afternoon. The agency said the animals’ owner, David Peterson, willingly relinquished the animals.

“These cats have been living in terrible conditions,” Sue Cosby, chief executive officer for the Pennsylvania SPCA, based in Philadelphia said in a written statement. “They deserve to be someone’s best friend. We intend to work with the cat rescue organizations as well as members of the community to find them permanent homes.”

The case was handled by the Philadelphia office because the SPCA restructured its internal organization two years ago. Local branches, such as the Danville SPCA, now serve solely as animal shelters, while animal cruelty complaints are dispatched by the Philadelphia office.

The PSPCA is asking the public for help funding the costs associated with saving the lives of these cats. As a non-profit organization, the PSPCA relies on donations to prevent and prosecute animal abuse and neglect cases. If you are interested please donate today at http://pspca.org/donate/funds or call the PSPCA at (215) 426-6300.