Hoarding, child neglect - 4 dogs, 15 cat seized Newfane, NY (US)Incident Date: Thursday, Sep 9, 2010 County: Niagara
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged: Patricia Rubin
A Lockport-Olcott Road woman Thursday was charged with 19 cases of animal cruelty, and her trailer was condemned after authorities discovered animal waste caked 3 to 4 inches thick throughout the garbage-strewn residence.
Four dogs and 15 cats were surrendered to the Niagara County SPCA.
The owner, Patricia Rubin, 56, also was charged with endangering the welfare of a child. Her 7-month-old grandchild was living in the trailer with the child's parents, Danielle Rubin, 20, of Newfane, and Christopher Bodda, 22, of Oregon, who also were charged with endangering the welfare of a child. Niagara County Child Protective Services was summoned to the scene.
SPCA Director John Faso said the agency received an anonymous tip just after 11 a. m. and discovered "deplorable conditions for both humans and animals" in the trailer, located in a mobile home park in the 3900 block of Lockport-Olcott.
The trailer, he said, is "not that big, but they had four dogs inside. A pit bull mix was living in a room by himself, and he had eaten most of the doorway, and there was feces all over the floor."
Three other dogs -- two border collies and a Chihuahua -- were in a front room and carport that was caked with animal waste, he added.
"The rest of the house was just strewn with debris and garbage," Faso added. "The refrigerator was not turned on, there was flies in the refrigerator. It was rough. I didn't see any food at all. I don't know where they slept or ate."
Town Building Inspector Douglas Nankey and the Niagara County Health Department inspected the site, and Nankey condemned it.
Faso said there were three or four cats on the stove, another three to four on a table and several running around outside. He said there may still be some they were unable to catch.
"[Rubin] didn't say much, but she actually didn't realize that she had that many cats. With the dogs I'm not sure what her motivation was, but it had been going on for quite a while," Faso said.
He said all of the animals appeared to be malnourished, dehydrated and had severe cases of fleas and mites. The dogs, he added, suffered hair loss from the fleas, and in two cases, their hair is so matted, they likely will have to be shaved.
"None of them have been vaccinated, and she couldn't tell the last time they had received medical care," Faso said.
"A [veterinarian] has evaluated all of them, and they are receiving medical treatment now," Faso said. "They will be bathed, vaccinated, and one by one they will be taken care of. The hope is that eventually we can get them back to health and get them up for adoption." References |