LUSBY, Md. — A Lusby man faces seven animal cruelty charges after investigators alleged he admitted to abandoning his family’s 16-year-old cat outside a relative’s home and later telling his wife the animal had died, according to court filings. Nicholas Francis Delvon Brown, 47, reportedly told animal control officers he didn’t want to deal with the aging cat anymore after it began having accidents in the house.
Calvert County Animal Control Officer Limerick responded to a location on Coster Road around 12:30 p.m. on Sept. 17, 2025, for reports of an injured cat found in a trap, court filings state. The officer reportedly transported the calico cat to the Linda L. Kelley Animal Shelter, where staff said they discovered the animal in severe distress.
Court records state that shelter personnel observed the cat, later identified as “Patches,” with what they described as a dirty appearance, covered in mud, limping, smelling of infection, and bearing what appeared to be a large hunchback caused by severely matted fur. Animal control officials said the cat appeared visibly underweight and attempted to retrieve food from a floor drain. The probable cause statement alleges investigators found a large infected wound on the cat’s hind leg with maggots present.
Veterinary staff sedated Patches for examination and reportedly found extensive signs of neglect, prosecutors wrote. Court documents indicate the cat had four toenails that had grown into her paw pads, fly larvae in her fur, and a body condition score of 2 out of 9, indicating severe malnourishment. Shelter records state Patches weighed only 5 pounds, 1 ounce upon arrival, with ribs, spine and hip bones visible after the removal of matted fur.
Investigators scanned the cat and located a microchip registered to an Adelina Road address. Officials traced the microchip through Charles County Animal Care, which showed Patches was adopted in 2009, according to court records. Through database searches, animal control officers reportedly connected the registered name to the surname Brown and located a residence in Lusby linked to Nicholas Brown.
Animal Control Officer King contacted Brown around 1:32 p.m. and asked if he knew the registered name, prosecutors said. Court filings indicate Brown confirmed the registered name was his wife and said they had a missing cat matching Patches’ description that had disappeared approximately two and a half weeks earlier. The complaint alleges Brown initially told investigators the cat typically hid under the porch when she got out and that she looked fine when she went missing.
About 12 minutes later, Brown reportedly called investigators back with a different account, charging documents state. The official statement says Brown told officers, “I’m sorry I lied to you earlier,” and admitted the cat had started urinating in the house and was getting older, and he didn’t want to deal with it anymore.
According to prosecutors, Brown then admitted to taking Patches and leaving her outside at his grandmother’s home in Lusby. Court documents state Brown said he thought it would be better for Patches to live outdoors for her remaining days rather than be euthanized. Animal control records indicate Brown asked investigators not to contact his wife, revealing that he had told her the cat was dead.
Investigators later contacted Brown’s wife around 2:32 p.m., court filings show. Officials said she confirmed she had been told the cat was dead and that her husband had “taken care of it.” Charging documents state she expressed shock upon learning the cat was alive and receiving treatment at the shelter. Court records note she agreed to surrender ownership, telling investigators she did not feel comfortable returning an animal to a home where it had been left outside.
The charging documents also note she told investigators Patches had used the litter box most of the time and appeared fine before disappearing, though she had been grooming herself less frequently, which they attributed to age. Prosecutors said she reported no knowledge of any wounds on the cat.
Shelter and veterinary staff provided treatment including nail trimming, wound care, maggot removal, mat removal and antibiotics, according to court records. Officials reported that with proper veterinary care, food, water and shelter, Patches’ wound began healing. As of Oct. 3, 2025, officials said Patches had gained one pound, bringing her weight to 6 pounds, 1 ounce, and was doing increasingly well with continued care.
Brown faces seven misdemeanor charges, including two counts of animal cruelty for depriving an animal of necessary sustenance and inflicting unnecessary suffering, court filings show. He is also charged with five counts of failure to provide proper care, including nutritious food, veterinary care, proper drink, shelter and protection from weather. Each animal cruelty misdemeanor carries a maximum penalty of 90 days imprisonment and a $1,000 fine under Maryland law if convicted.
Prosecutors filed charges on Oct. 6, 2025, and issued a summons for Brown’s appearance, court records indicate. A preliminary inquiry is scheduled for Nov. 24, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. in Calvert County District Court in Prince Frederick. The State’s Attorney’s Office for Calvert County is prosecuting the case.
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This is great more people should be held responsible for their animals. He deserves to pay cost of care from shelter and be made to make donations to them every year