Warning, story includes descriptions of animal neglect which can be upsetting to some.
Bensalem Police arrested the owner of a cat rescue on cruelty to animals and neglect charges Friday, months after an arrest warrant was issued.
A Bensalem-based Cat Rescue operator was taken into custody Friday by Bensalem Police after months of refusing to respond to authorities and make arrangements to turn herself in, animal cruelty authorities told Lower Bucks Source.
CATS Bridge to Rescue director Margaret Vautard, 7o of Feasterville, was arraigned by on-call District Judge Michael W. Gallagher on two felony counts of aggravated cruelty to animals, seven counts of misdemeanor neglect of animal care, and 109 animal neglect summary offenses, Friday afternoon.
A warrant for Vautard’s arrest was originally issued last Fall
Authorities said she had refused to turn herself in after the arrest warrant was issued.
“Ms Vautard has not yet responded to her charges. The Bensalem Twp. Police were recently added as co-affiants so that the charges could be added to the NCIC system and she can be picked up by constables on her arrest warrant,” Cindy Kelly, the SPCA’s communications and development director, explained.
“Charges filed by Humane Law Enforcement Officers are not included in the NCIC system without Police as a co-affiant. It’s not a necessity in every case, but in situations like this when a person is unresponsive to their charges, we take this additional step so that they can be held to account should they be picked up for another circumstance.” Kelly said.
According to the criminal complaint, Bensalem Police along with Bensalem Township Animal Control Officer (ACO) Sarah Barrett and a women’s animal shelter employee visited Cats Bridge to Rescue located at 2820 Old Lincoln Hwy unit 4 in Trevose on September 30.
Authorities were there to investigate a complaint that the conditions inside the warehouse were unsanitary and that there were many sick felines at the rescue.
Upon arrival, they were met by the owner of the rescue, Margaret Vautard. Once inside, it was reported that there was a strong smell of ammonia and cat urine.
Investigators observed more than five cats who appeared to have symptoms consistent with an illness. These symptoms included eye discharge, missing hair, sneezing, nasal discharge, and eye scratching.
Two very thin young kittens were observed lying in a cage with wet spots on their backs. When questioned, Vautard said she had not taken them for veterinary care. Instead, she gave them medication and injections to support the kittens through their illness.
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Vautard surrendered the kittens to the Bucks County SPCA, who examined and determined the kittens had Panleukopenia, an illness that is highly contagious among unvaccinated cats.
The two kittens died the next morning after being taken in by the Humane Society Police, court records show. Vautard said that the rescue didn’t have much funding to provide veterinary care, and that they were doing the best they could with what funding they did have. When the BCSPCA offered to take in any sick cats Vautard had she refused, the probable cause alleges.
On October 1, 2025, Bensalem Police, alongside Co-Responder and Animal Control, Middletown Township Animal Control, and employees from Bucks County SPCA were all called in to remove a total of 60 cats from the rescue.
Most of the cats that were brought in were in poor condition with fleas, scabbing on the skin, sneezing, upper respiratory infections, and diarrhea, animal cruelty authorities said in court papers.
While there were multiple bottles of prescription medicine found on the premises, none matched the animals they rescued.
A Go Fund me to support Vataurd to offset legal fees was launched in January with a goal of raising $3000.00 of which 82 percent has been raised to date.
“The legal fees are mounting, and while Margaret is hesitant to ask for help, I know she needs our support now more than ever. Any contribution you can make will go directly towards her legal defense and help fight these unjust charges. Thank you for considering this urgent plea. “
Vautard was released on unsecured bail and has a pending court date of July 1. She is represented by Catherine Anne Porter, Esq. of Smith And Porter based in Newtown. Efforts to contact Porter were unsuccessful at publication time.
The cat rescue was closed in October more than 70 cats were rescued, authorities said.
If you know of animals suffering abuse or neglect anywhere in Bucks County, call 1-844-SPCA-TIP (844-772-2847) or report online at buckscountyspca.org
Note: Publisher Jeff Bohen contributed to this report
