Mother and son accused of keeping 150 dead cats in Pomona garage

A mother and son who kept more than 150 dead cats in the garage of their Pomona home must stand trial on felony animal abuse charges, a judge ruled this morning.

Florence Handley, 81, and Don Miller, 61, failed to properly care for cats at an animal shelter they ran out of their home in the 100 block of West Kingsley Avenue, prosecutors say.

At a preliminary hearing this morning in Pomona Superior Court, testimony was heard from an official from the Inland Valley Humane Society, and from a veterinarian who treated sick cats rescued from the home in June.

Judge Charles Horan rejected requests from Handley and Miller's attorneys that the animal abuse charges be reduced to misdemeanor charges.

Handley and Miller must next appear in court Oct. 21.