More than 150 animals have been rescued from a Long Island home, where they were living in squalid conditions, after the homeowner’s daughter reported the situation to authorities last month. Officials suspect that additional cats might still be at large.
Alena Horbatko, a resident of Glen Cove, was arrested after 155 animals, including two dogs, were removed from her filthy home on St. Andrews Lane, according to the Nassau County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NCSPCA). The organization shared this information with Patch last week.
When the 54-year-old was apprehended on June 8, authorities rescued over 130 cats and dogs from the unhygienic environment. Among them were 43 cats in critical condition.
The exact number of animals that lived in the residence is unknown, but the NCSPCA believes some cats with access to both the indoors and outdoors may still be unaccounted for.
“We have to continue to trap and come back until there is nothing to trap,” NCSPCA detective Brian Wasserman told Patch. “We’ll get them all.”
Local pet stores and animal adoption agencies have been assisting the NCSPCA in caring for the rescued cats and finding them new homes, according to the outlet.
Several city employees from Glen Cove have volunteered to foster or adopt the cats, as well as contributed food, supplies, and time to support the recovery initiative.
“It was impossible not to want to help,” commented Sue Tripp, one of the first city employees to adopt a kitten.
Authorities were initially alerted by Horbatko’s 18-year-old daughter, who called 911 out of concern for her younger sister’s safety in the home.
The daughter described the appalling conditions, which included toxic levels of ammonia that could cause respiratory infections and severe health issues.
Police officers donned protective gear due to the poor air quality when entering the Long Island home and described the scene as “overwhelming,” noting that “everywhere you look there were cats.”
According to the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office, one animal was found dead inside the home, and another died while being transported to an animal hospital, as reported by Patch.
The criminal complaint stated that the food available was “inadequate to provide proper nourishment for the 65 cats” and was “contaminated with dirt, feces, and other debris.”
Water in the home was found to be “in an unsanitary condition” and “not suitable for safe consumption,” the complaint further stated.
The two dogs rescued from the house of horrors were discovered “without access to food or water,” with only a “kiddie pool of green, dirty water” as a source of water.
Horbatko operated a website that advertised the animals for sale, according to the outlet.
Horbatko pleaded guilty to 67 counts of torturing or injuring an animal, two counts of second-degree reckless endangerment, and one count of acting in a manner injurious to a child under 17.
She was released on her own recognizance following her arraignment on June 9.
The judge ordered a ban on animal ownership and issued two stay-away orders of protection, according to the DA’s Office.
Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly is considering bringing additional charges against Horbatko, as reported by Patch.
Prosecutors informed the outlet that Horbatko is expected to appear in court again on August 10.
The NCSPCA did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment.
