Hempstead rescues dogs from Freeport home

Hempstead Town animal control officers rescued 10 dogs from a Freeport home Thursday after responding to a call from the Freeport Village Police Department.

According to a statement from Hempstead Town, three Boston terriers, two young terrier-mix dogs and five pit bulls were retrieved and placed in the town’s animal shelter in Wantagh.

While the dogs appear to be in generally good health, rescuers said they were found in cramped cages with feces and urine, officials said.

Some animals were underweight and showed old scars.

An “important lesson that neighbors can draw from these rescues is the importance of 'saying something’ if you ‘see something’ that is indicative of animal abuse or neglect,” Town Supervisor Kate Murray said in the town statement.

Town officials are working with the Freeport Village Police Department and the Nassau District Attorney’s Office as they examine the circumstances at the home.

The Hempstead Town Attorney’s Office is preparing a petition for the town to be granted ownership of the dogs. The town has also reached out to animal rescuers at Rescue Ink, who have expertise with pit bull rescues, Murray said.