Hoarding - over 100 emaciated and dead animals - West Hills, NY

Wednesday, Sep 1, 2010

County: Suffolk

Charges: Misdemeanor, Felony CTA
Disposition: Alleged

Alleged:
» Marilyn Gladstein
» Michael Gladstein

Case Updates: 1 update(s) available

Fire alarms inside of a West Hills home led to the discovery of more than 100 emaciated and dead animals Wednesday morning.

Firefighters responded to the alarm at approximately 11 a.m., where they discovered the abused animals, including a pony, three goats, one cat, and dozens of dogs. There was no fire, officials said.

Roy Gross, Chief of the Suffolk County SPCA, said the ammonia in the air from the urine-soaked house likely triggered the alarms to go off. Gross said the smell was so strong that firefighters initially couldn't go in, but had to wait for protective gear and breathing apparatuses.

In addition to the dozens of animals found on the sprawling property, which has a three-car garage and a barn, several dead dogs were found in the kitchen sink and a bathtub, officials said.

Michael and Marilyn Gladstein, the owners of the house, returned home Wednesday night. They were arrested by SPCA detectives and charged with animal cruelty, including a felony for the emaciated pony. The couple was taken to the Second Precinct for processing, officials said.

Gross said the animals are now being cared for at the Huntington Animal Shelter. He described them as living in "deplorable conditions" with no food or water.

Case Updates

A West Hills couple have been charged with animal cruelty after the Suffolk County SPCA raided their house last week and found dozens of emaciated animals inside, some of which were dead, officials said in a news conference Friday. Officials highlighted the case to get the word out that the more than 100 animals rescued will soon be up for adoption. Suffolk SPCA officers hold a few of the abused animal who were rescued from the Gladstein's home. The cruelty charge stems from the discovery of an abused pony that officers found in a shed in the backyard of Michael and Marilyn Gladstein's large Chichester Road home. The pony was so badly neglected that it had developed a bone deformity and was unable to walk, Suffolk SPCA Chief Roy Gross said. Animal cruelty is felony punishable by up to two years in prison. Gross said additional charges are pending based on the condition of the other animals. In addition, Gross said the Suffolk SPCA is taking civil action to ensure the Gladstein's cover the cost of rescuing and rehabilitating the animals. "There is no excuse for this [abuse] and it will not be tolerated," Gross said. In addition to the pony, 115 dogs, one cat and three goats were rescued from the home, which Gross said was in "deplorable condition," with floors soaked with urine so badly that they were rotting and caving in. The house has been condemned by the Town of Huntington. Gross said the total number of dogs that had been inside the house was difficult to determine, as parts of dogs and skeletal remains were also found. The couple had previously claimed to have been living in the house at the time. The pony has received medical treatment and is recovering very well. The current caretakers are considering adoption, Gross said. The 115 dogs, most of which were crossbreeds of Pomeranian, Chihuaha and Yorkshire Terriers, are being distributed to numerous area shelters to be put up for adoption. Suffolk SPCA officials said each dog is undergoing thorough screenings to ensure they find the most suitable homes. Huntington Town Supervisor Frank Petrone added that town officials are considering waiving traditional adoption fees for the animals. "In just the week I've worked with them I've seen 99 percent of them turn around," said Flo Alvarado, who works for the Suffolk SPCA. "They are very loving." Here is a list of local shelters where the dogs can be adopted: Town of Huntington Animal Shelter 106 Deposit Rd., East Northport 631-754-2030 Little Shelter 33 Warner Rd., Huntington 631-368-8770 Second Chance Rescue 1075 Portion Rd., Farmingville 631-484-2923 Almost Home Rescue P.O. Box 350, Medford 631-627-3665 Last Hope Animal Rescue P.O. Box 61, Syosset 631-425-1884

Source: Long Island Press - Sept 10, 2010 Update posted on Sep 12, 2010 - 1:13PM

References

• « NY State Animal Cruelty Map
  « More cases in Suffolk County, NY

  Note: Classifications and other fields should not be used to determine what specific charges the suspect is facing or was convicted of - they are for research and statistical purposes only. The case report and subsequent updates outline the specific charges. Charges referenced in the original case report may be modified throughout the course of the investigation or trial, so case updates, when available, should always be considered the most accurate reflection of charges.
  
  For more information regarding classifications and usage of this database, please visit the database notes and disclaimer.