LEWISTON — A judge will soon decide who gets 64 animals seized from an apartment in Lewiston last month.

A custody hearing is scheduled for April 4 in Lewiston District Court.

The pets, including 25 cats, four dogs and a variety of other animals, were taken March 1 from the 116 Howe St. apartment of Samantha Bell and her husband, Paul Lauze.

Many of the pets needed immediate medical attention, according to the Animal Welfare Program. Officials also found one animal dead.

Animal Welfare officials spent three and a half years responding to complaints about Bell and working with her to get her animals care, according to court records.

Bell has told the Sun Journal in Facebook posts and messages that her animals were cared for and well-treated. She said the animals all had their own spaces, including two bedrooms reserved for the cats and tanks or cages for the small animals, and she got up every day at 6:30 a.m. to clean.

She said her animals are her babies.

Bell, 29, was arrested for disorderly conduct at her apartment the morning of the  seizure. She was released on bail later that day. No one has been charged with a crime related to the animals, though an Animal Welfare Program spokesman has said charges may be considered after all of the animals have been evaluated and the evidence analyzed.

The animals were sent to several shelters across the state, where they were evaluated and cared for.

Animal Welfare spokesman John Bott said the animals’ conditions are improving.

Staff Writer Mark Laflamme contributed to this story.

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