Rescuer: Some seized animals may be put down

An animal rescuer whose shelter took in more than 50 dogs and other emaciated and sickly animals seized from a facility in Yaphank said Thursday she was hopeful most of the animals could be rehabilitated for adoption.

But Michelle Curtin, a director at Second Chance Wildlife Rescue in Farmingville, told Newsday that three of the dogs are in critical condition - and two are in such poor health that they may even have to be put down.

"We are very, very concerned," Curtin said. "This one definitely is one of the worst cases I've ever seen. It was bad. It was really bad."

On Wednesday, the Suffolk SPCA seized 56 dogs, 15 cats, three horses - one of them, a miniature - as well as two doves and a goat from the Herding Dog Rescue center in Yaphank. That center, run by Deborah Miller out of a house on Park Street, specialized in elderly, ill dogs, many of which were too sick to be adopted, an attorney for Miller said.

Suffolk SPCA chief Roy Gross told Newsday the agency had been investigating the center for months - and said Miller, a teacher at Hewlett High School, could face criminal charges but he would not elaborate. He said Miller did not cooperate with the investigation.

Second Chance took 54 dogs, the horses, birds and goat, according to Curtin. Nine of those dogs were sent to a shelter in Port Jefferson, Curtin said, while two were sent to another facility in Manorville.

The cats were sent to a shelter in Brookhaven, Curtin said.

"We've got eye infections, ear infections, mange, emaciation," Curtin said of the animals her facility kept. "Most of the animals are doing better today. But some of them are still in pretty bad shape."

Worst off, Curtin said, are a collie mix and a mutt.

Both of those dogs may need to be euthanized, she said.

One Pekingese mix is blind in one eye. The other eye is missing, according to Curtin.

Curtin said she wants to believe that the alleged mistreatment was not intentional.

The Central Islip attorney representing Miller, Patrick Young, told Newsday Miller had spent roughly $100,000 over the past six years to care for the animals.

Meanwhile, the volunteers at Second Chance continue to administer intravenous fluids, vitamins and other medical remedies to the animals now in their care and are hopeful most will make a complete recovery.

"It's a huge responsibility," Curtin said Thursday. "We're going to do our best not to lose any of them."