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REIDSVILLE — In the case of Edward McIrvin, crime does pay.

McIrvin’s theft of 37 cats from the Rockingham County Animal Shelter last week landed him in trouble but got the cats new homes.

Kathe Nagy, office manager with the Reidsville Veterinary Hospital, said all the adoptable cats had been placed with families.

“Eight went on Friday, 21 went Saturday, and the rest went today,” Nagy said Monday afternoon.

Two couldn’t be adopted because they have leukemia, and Nagy said a third has tested positive for feline immunodeficiency virus, which weakens cats’ immune systems.

McIrvin, who volunteers at the shelter, said it was “extraordinary” that most of the cats had been adopted. That was his ultimate goal, he said.

The 43-year-old Greensboro man turned himself in to Reidsville police Monday. He has been charged with felony breaking and entering, and felony larceny after breaking and entering. He was released on a written promise to appear and has a July 22 court date.

McIrvin admitted to stealing the cats just hours before many were scheduled to be euthanized. He planned to get them veterinary care and find them homes.

He later returned the cats and paid $5,800 to the Reidsville Veterinary Hospital, which contracts with the county for shelter space. The money was used to pay the adoption fee, spaying and neutering and a week’s boarding for the 37 cats.

McIrvin will get a refund because the cats did not stay the entire week, Nagy said, unless he wants to continue to board the sick cats.

His generosity has inspired others. Nagy said the veterinary hospital has received $300 in sponsorships for other cats being held at the shelter. That money will subsidize their adoption fees, she said.

Since Wednesday, at least 25 more cats have been brought to the shelter, Nagy said. And today more will be euthanized.

“If anybody’s missing a cat, come look for it at the shelter,” Nagy said.

Contact Jonnelle Davis at 627-4881, Ext. 126, or jonnelle.davis@news-record.com