Jul 31, 2008 9:29 am US/Eastern
Hundreds Of Animals Found In 'Zoo From Hell'
Cockfighting Books Also Allegedly Found On Owner's Property
WEST HAVERSTRAW, N.Y. (CBS) ―
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State police say they have found hundreds of animals, including sheep, chickens and guinea hens, in poor conditions at a home in the New York City suburbs. Sick animals were taken to local veterinarians.
CBS
It was an ugly scene in Rockland County as hundreds of sick and malnourished animals were removed from a home described as a "zoo from hell" on Tuesday.
Now, a West Haverstraw man is facing charges he mistreated his menagerie, yet somehow he is still being allowed to keep the animals.
The puppies have been bathed, fed, and dewormed. The rabbits have been cleaned up and treated for ear infections. But the ram, covered in a dirty coat of wool about a foot thick, can barely stand and remains too sick to walk.
The 18 sickest animals are being treated by a veterinarian, but hundreds upon hundreds of birds and other creatures remain at the West Haverstraw home of Robert Everle, 59, who says he's just a guy who likes to raise animals.
Among the animals found on his 1-acre property were sheep, chickens, rabbits, a dog, three puppies, kittens, ducks, guinea hens, and other miscellaneous fowl. In all, officials estimated about 300 animals.
Everle insists he treats the animals humanely, but state police and animal welfare officials tell a different story.
"They weren't just in the house, a lot of them were out pretty much exposed to the elements. I described it as a zoo from hell – many of the animals were outside in deplorable conditions," said Prosecutor Anthony Dellicarri. "To be blunt about it, when the wind shifted it was one of the worst things I've ever smelled."
Officials say they found cockfighting handbooks when they raided Everle's property.
But Everle denies that allegation.
"Cockfighting? I don't believe in cockfighting," he said.
Officials also say the conditions the animals were left in were dirty and not healthy.
"Water was not made readily available and the water bowls, the water containers that were, most of them were filled with algae, some had feces. They were disgusting, they were filthy. The rabbits' pellets had their own droppings," said Marc Kissel of the Hudson Valley Humane Society.
Everle faces two misdemeanor counts and has been ordered to improve conditions for his animals. Officials also got a court order permitting law enforcement to come here at any time without notice to check on the remaining animals.
Authorities say there may be 300 animals in all, but the sheer number makes it impossible to confiscate them all, so they'll monitor Everle's promise to better treat those left behind.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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