‘It was sad, to say the least’: 49 animals rescued from hoarder on Long Island

Matthew Euzarraga
·1 min read
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‘It was sad, to say the least’: 49 animals rescued from hoarder on Long Island

RONKONKOMA, N.Y. (PIX11) – Animals covered in urine and feces were rescued from an animal hoarder in Ronkonkoma on Tuesday, according to the Suffolk County SPCA.

Officers received a report of suspected animal abuse in a home where three or four dogs were believed to be experiencing animal cruelty, officials said. The Suffolk County SPCA executed a search warrant and found 49 animals — mostly dogs in horrendous conditions, sources said.

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“All the animals were in cages and filth,” said Roy Gross, chief of department for the Suffolk County SPCA. “The animals were soaked in urine, thousands of flies and maggots, and some of the cages were stuck to the floor. It was sad, to say the least.”

The air was so noxious that investigators had difficulty breathing, officials said.

Several animals had matted hair and were removed to the Islip Animal Shelter. A few parrots were also removed from the residence and taken to a local rescue.

The owner of the home where the animals were found, 79-year-old Linda Hart, is facing 49 charges of animal cruelty, officials said. Hart’s home was deemed unsanitary and dangerous, and the town labeled the residence as uninhabitable.

It took hours to recover all the animals. An officer with the SPCA said it was the worst case they’d ever seen, sources said.

The Islip Hazmat Unit, Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department, Islip Animal Control, Islip Building Inspector, Islip Fire Marshall, and Lakeland Fire Department aided with the rescue.

If convicted of the charges, Hart may be placed on the animal abuse registry, fined $1,000, and could face a year in jail.

Animal cruelty will not be tolerated in Suffolk County. If you witness any incident of animal cruelty or neglect in Suffolk County, please contact the Suffolk County SPCA at (631) 382-7722. 

Matthew Euzarraga is a multimedia journalist from El Paso, Texas. He has covered local news and LGBTQIA topics in the New York City Metro area since 2021. He joined the PIX11 Digital team in 2023. You can see more of his work here.

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