May 30, 2007 5:59 pm US/Eastern
23 Animals Found Living In House Of Feces, Filth
Tenant Charged With Animal Cruelty; House Ruled Unfit For Humans & Animals
LAKE CARMEL, N.Y. (CBS) ―
A Putnam County house was raided Tuesday night and 23 animals were seized after SPCA officers discovered the animals living in squalor among large piles of garbage, feces, and filth.
The owner of the Lake Carmel property arrived at the home Tuesday morning and smelled a pungent odor of urine before she had even entered the house, which she had been renting out to someone she'd actually planned on evicting. She immediately contacted the SPCA.
SPCA officers say they found 16 cats -- including nine newborn kittens -- as well as five love birds, a cockatiel, and a Dalmatian whose nails had grown so long that they were growing sideways, making it painful for it to walk. The kittens were suffering from upper respiratory infections and flea infestation. Some had eye infections that caused their eyelids to seal shut.
There was no food or water available for the animals, most of which suffered from malnutrition.
"It's been said a picture will speak a thousand words, but I don't think those pictures really said enough," Westchester SPCA Chief Ken Ross said, referring to images of the scene shown to CBS 2.
The house itself had piles of feces in nearly every room, with urine and feces stained all over the furnitures. Piles of garbage were scattered from room to room as well.
Officials say the smell was so acrid and the conditions of the house so filthy that it was unfit for occupation by house or animal.
Police arrested the tenant, a woman, who faces 23 counts of animal cruelty. The suspect is expected to appear in court sometime next week. If convicted, she faces up to 23 years behind bars. "I'm sure she meant well, but it became too much for her," said Rosalie Tonaro.
Such cases as this are considered "animal hoarding," which occurs when a person tries to care for many pets, but doesn't realize that they are causing more harm than good.
The animals were taken to the Westchester SPCA where they're currently being cared for. It is not yet known whether they'll be made available for adoption.
CBS 2 HD will have more on this developing story during CBS 2 News at 5.
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