Police raid home full of dead and dying rabbits

HILLSBORO, Ore. - Over 200 rabbits, many of them dead and others found clinging to life, were taken from a homeowner in Hillsboro on Monday.

The home that police raided is located on Northeast Kathryn Street.

While Humane Society volunteers spent hours chasing the rabbits, their owner, Miriam Sakewitz, told KATU News she did not understand what the problem was.

"I've had them for seven years," she said. "I have a vet, Dr. Craft, in Washington and I take them there once a month."

"It's a classic hoarding situation," said Mark Wells with the Oregon Humane Society. "She meets almost every profile. It's a mental illness and it's hard.  It's a crime."

Nearly all of the rabbits were either sick or dying.  Over 100 dead rabbits were found in the garage alone, their bodies stored in freezers. 

Of the rabbits that are still alive, many cannot be saved.  Investigators think there may be more that they will never find because they tunneled underneath the house.

Sakewitz faces felony charges in the case.