200 Animals Saved from Hoarding Situation
Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced the arrest of Samantha Boyd, 57, of Northport, who is accused of misdemeanor animal cruelty and endangering the welfare of a vulnerable elderly person, in connection with the alleged hoarding of over 200 animals inside and outside of her residence. The conditions in which the animals and the 95-year-old woman were kept were alleged to be extremely hazardous. Boyd’s partner, Neal Weschler, 61, was also charged for animal cruelty.
Through a coordinated emergency response by the District Attorney’s Biological, Environmental, and Animal Safety Team (BEAST), during which numerous non-profits stepped up to help, all animals were rescued from these conditions within a one-day field operation.
“This was a deeply distressing situation, but thanks to the swift action and collaboration between our office and the dedicated rescue partners, these animals are now safe and receiving the care that they urgently need,” Tierney said. “Animal cruelty and neglect will not be tolerated in our county.”
“The Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office stands against the horrific abuse and neglect of animals, and we will not tolerate it in Suffolk County,” said Suffolk County Sheriff Errol D. Toulon, Jr. “I am proud that our deputies are part of the BEAST Unit, working alongside the District Attorney and our Law enforcement partners to protect the most vulnerable. I am grateful for the dedication of every investigator involved in this case.”
Suffolk County Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina added, “The level of neglect was unconscionable as the animals were in poor condition and living in squalor. I commend the efforts of BEAST Unit detectives and the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office for rescuing these defenseless animals.”
According to the investigation, following a complaint of possible animal hoarding, BEAST detectives executed a search warrant at Boyd’s private residence on Fort Salonga Road in Northport in the early morning hours of October 1. On-site investigations allegedly revealed numerous animals living in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions. The case involved over 200 domestic and wild animals, including roosters, squirrels, ducks, pigeons, quail, rabbits, crows, starlings, geese, chipmunks, doves, chickens, hamsters, ferrets, guinea pigs, hedgehogs, voles, flying squirrels, parakeets, parrots, cockatoos, chinchillas, cats, tortoises, dogs, turkeys, and various other species.
All animals, numbering at 206 in total, were alleged to be living in cages with piles of waste and filth, with unsanitary food and water sources, in severe states of overcrowding. The interior of the house was alleged to be infested with insects, spiders, and other pests. In addition to animal overcrowding, the house was alleged to be extremely cluttered wall-to-wall with debris, garbage, and household waste, making certain areas impassable. On the second floor of the residence, a 95-year-old woman was found, who was allegedly confined by all the debris.
Boyd is presently certified by New York State Department of Environmental Conservation as a wildlife rehabilitator. State authorities have accordingly been notified about BEAST’s alleged findings.
The Town of Huntington was referred violations of building and fire codes and will supervise remediation of the premises.
“Huntington takes special care in protecting those that cannot advocate for themselves,” said Huntington Town Supervisor Ed Smyth. “To know that someone would intentionally put animals in harm’s way is unconscionable. The Town will do whatever it can to assist our local law enforcement in finding loving forever homes for these animals, who deserve nothing less.”
In a unified effort, the BEAST Unit joined forces with multiple animal organizations to rescue the animals and this elderly individual from this unsafe environment.
The District Attorney’s BEAST Unit worked closely with the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office, the Suffolk County Police Department, the Suffolk County Department of Social Services, the Town of Huntington, and a coalition of local and regional rescue groups, including Humane Long Island, Evelyn Alexander Wildlife Rescue Center, Sweetbriar Nature Center, Save the Animals Rescue (STAR) Foundation, Long Island Rabbit Rescue, Strong Island Animal Rescue, Turtle Rescue of the Hamptons, and the Wildlife Center of Long Island.
Each of these organizations responded immediately to the subject premises to provide medical evaluations, transport, shelter, and ongoing rehabilitation for the animals.
“Wild animals belong in the wild, not being hoarded in residential homes,” said John Di Leonardo, anthrozoologist and Executive Director of Humane Long Island. “Humane Long Island is proud to assist the District Attorney’s BEAST Unit in shuttering this fraudulent rescue and saving these long-neglected animals, who were languishing in their own filth with bone infections and staph infections. Humane Long Island will provide them with veterinary care that they so desperately need after they were obviously denied even the most basic care. We will then begin the process of moving them back to the wild or to reputable sanctuaries where they should’ve been all along.”
“This is a powerful example of coordination between agencies and organizations working to protect animals and keep our communities safe,” said Brian Shapiro, New York State Director of Humane World for Animals. “Humane World for Animals thanks the Suffolk County’s BEAST team for coordinating this rescue and upholding our anti-cruelty laws.”
“This situation is a travesty,” said Janine Bendicksen, the Director of Wildlife Rehabilitation at Sweetbriar in Smithtown. “Folks that do wildlife rehabilitation need federal and state support so that things don’t get out of hand. Which is exactly what happened here.”
“We are happy to help the DA’s office and the state DEC to make sure these animals are cared for, to check that they are healthy, and provide them a clean, healthy environment as long as they need until they find their forever home,” said Kathleen Mulcahy, Executive Director of the Evelyn Alexander Wildlife Rescue.
Many of the rescued animals will soon be available for adoption through the participating rescue organizations. For more information, please visit their websites:
- Humane Long Island (humanelongisland.org)
- Sweetbriar (sweetbriarnc.org)
- Evelyn Alexander Wildlife Rescue (wildliferescuecenter.org)
- STAR Foundation (savetheanimalsrescue.org)
- Long Island Rabbit Rescue (longislandrabbitrescue.org)
- Wildlife Center of Long Island (wildlifecenterli.org)
- Turtle Rescue of the Hamptons (turtlerescueofthehamptons.org)
- Strong Island Animal Rescue (strong-island-animal-rescue-league.myshopify.com)
While the investigation is ongoing, Boyd has initially been charged with multiple counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty and one count of Endangering the Welfare of a Vulnerable Elderly Person, a class A misdemeanor. Weschler was charged with multiple counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty.