Aug 17, 2007 11:43 am US/Eastern
Elderly Woman, 44 Pets Lived In Apartment Of Feces
NYPD Hazmat Teams Called In To Rescue Animals Living Among Piles Of Feces
by Hazel Sanchez
QUEENS (CBS) ―
An 83-year-old woman suffering from Alzheimer's was hospitalized and dozens of animals inside her house rescued after police and animal officials discovered the woman and her pets living in squalid conditions.
The ASPCA and the NYPD were called to the woman's Woodhaven home by a concerned neighbor. Once there, officials found about 30 dogs, 10 cats and four birds.
"All of the animals are in very good shape," said Annemarie Lucas of the ASPCA. "This is probably a woman who loved these animals very much. They were her life. And it's very unfortunate that she can no longer care for them. But it certainly is the responsibility of us to step in to make sure the animals are getting the care that they need."
Neighbors say they always knew there were a lot of animals in the home, though they rarely saw them or their owner.
"It's always once you pass the back of the house, it always smells," neighbor Diana Muniz said.
Added neighbor Sandy Dalloo: "It sounds like birds, and cats and dogs. I think there are a lot of people that ... contacted animal's services but, nothing ever really checked out."
When police arrived at the woman's second-floor apartment at 93-10 75th Street, they say they were overwhelmed by the stench of animal feces and urine. Inside, they say the house was filled with feces and were forced to re-enter the home wearing protective hazardous materials suits.
The NYPD hazardous materials team was called to the scene for investigation, but the ASPCA says there aren't any plans to press charges against the woman.
"She's a victim herself," Lucas said. "She's a victim of age. And that is not a crime to become elderly and to become sick. She obviously took very good care of these animals."
The elderly woman was taken to the hospital, but there's no word on her condition.
The animals will likely be put up for adoption.
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