Eighteen charges relating to animal neglect and cruelty have been filed against the directors, officers, employees, and volunteers of For Love of Cats and Kittens, the nonprofit organization that formerly ran the cat sanctuary on Bond Street.

"After the appropriate amount of consideration, we felt that these were the appropriate charges to file," said Nye County District Attorney Bob Beckett.

Over 700 cats were discovered at the alleged sanctuary, in reality two-and-a-half acres of feces-covered brush and dirt, in July 2007.

Due to a lack of shelter and food, the majority of the cats were found starving, dehydrated, sick or all of the above.

A seven-month rescue operation, spearheaded by the Utah-based Best Friends Animal Society, called in by Nye County Animal Control, ensued, during which the majority of cats were treated and adopted out to private homes.

More than 500 volunteers from 27 states participated in the rescue operation.

Other cats were transported back to the Best Friends sanctuary in Kanab, Utah. More than 20 had to be euthanized.

The criminal complaint against FLOCK was filed Monday, June 2, and signed by Tim McCarty, Nye County Animal Control director.

It levels 17 charges of "overdriving/torturing/injuring/abandoning animals; failure to provide proper sustenance to the animals" and a single count of engaging in an act of cruelty to animals.

The charges reflect the most serious cases of alleged abuse and neglect found at the sanctuary.

The executive board of FLOCK has continually maintained the conditions in which the cats were found was the result of the care they received under former FLOCK President Sharon "Sherri" Allen.

FLOCK has alleged Allen began taking in more cats than she or the sanctuary could handle.

When Allen resigned as president of FLOCK and sanctuary director May 30, 2006, the executive board said it went to the sanctuary and was shocked to see the condition of both it and the cats.

The board also maintains it immediately contacted Nye County Animal Control.

Allen, on the other hand, has continually maintained she informed the board of her resignation and left behind a clean sanctuary with healthy cats that had adequate food and water.

The rescue operation for the Bond Street sanctuary cats is believed to be one of the most expensive rescue operations ever conducted at the cost of more than $1.5 million dollars.

Allen, although not charged for the sanctuary, was arrested and charged with 13 misdemeanors relating to animal cruelty for the condition of her personal cats at her home.

The charges stem from over 100 cats taken from her residence last August.

Authorities allege the cats were found in dirty conditions and various stages of ill health, but Allen has consistently maintained the cats were well cared for and always had necessary veterinary care.

Allen has also accused the media and authorities of exaggerating the conditions of her home and the animals.

She pleaded not guilty at her preliminary hearing in Pahrump Justice Court April 14.

Allen is requesting a jury trial but the state is arguing a grand jury trial is not appropriate for the charges filed and instead is asking a bench trial be held.

A hearing to discuss that matter is scheduled for June 24.