Animal neglect charges against man after 28 cats found dead in Bohemia home
A cat is crated for removal from a the home in Bohemia on Saturday. Credit: Neil Miller
Suffolk County SPCA officers charged a Bohemia man on Tuesday with 18 misdemeanor counts of animal neglect after officers found 28 dead cats in his home.
Stephen Glantz, 75, was charged with nine counts of failure to provide sustenance and care to animals and nine counts of neglect of an impounded animal, the SPCA said.
Officers went to the home on Saturday after receiving complaints and found 61 adult felines living in poor conditions. There were dead cats throughout the home, Suffolk SPCA Chief Roy Gross said.
SPCA officers also rescued eight kittens, ranging in age from a few days to 2 weeks old, Gross said.
SPCA officers arranged to meet Glantz on Monday night at the Suffolk police Sixth Precinct, where he was issued an appearance ticket. He could face up to 1 year in jail and a $1,000 fine.
Glantz did not return a message left Wednesday, and he did not have an attorney listed. He is scheduled to be arraigned on May 23 in Suffolk County First District Court in Central Islip.
Officers found "deplorable conditions," including spongy unstable floors and dangerous levels of ammonia. Glantz surrendered the cats to the SPCA and the Town of Islip Animal Shelter, Gross said.
"It certainly appears to be a hoarding situation, having that many cats in the home and living in there," Gross said Tuesday.
The home was deemed uninhabitable by the Islip Town fire marshal and power was cut off, Gross said.
The surviving 69 cats are in need of about $10,000 in medical care, including spay and neuter procedures, and treatment for upper respiratory infections and eye infections, said Jason Heller, an East Northport veterinarian.
Most of the cats appeared to have lived inside, were friendly and tested negative for feline AIDS and leukemia, Heller said.
The cats were treated on the SPCA's mobile hospital and at the Islip animal shelter, officials said. They will be available for adoption once medically cleared, officials said.
The SPCA, which is a nonprofit and not funded by Suffolk County, is seeking donations to cover the medical expenses and spay and neuter procedures.
According to the SPCA, 16 cats will be transferred to the Columbia-Greene Humane Society/SPCA and 10 to the Saratoga County Animal Shelter for adoption in upstate New York.
John Asbury is a breaking news and general assignment reporter. He has been with Newsday since 2014 and previously worked at The Press-Enterprise in Riverside, California.
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