Indictment alleges Glen Cove woman kept daughters, 166 cats in filthy home with high ammonia levels
Veterinarians determined the conditions left every cat suffering from upper respiratory infections of varying severity, while nearly half also had eye infections, prosecutors said.
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A Glen Cove woman has been indicted for 166 counts of animal cruelty after prosecutors say over 150 cats and kittens were living in a filthy, ammonia-filled home alongside her two daughters.
Alena Horbatko, 54, was arraigned Thursday and pleaded not guilty to a lengthy list of charges, including aggravated cruelty to animals, 163 counts of torturing, injuring and failing to provide proper sustenance to animals, and one count of endangering the welfare of a child.
Prosecutors say the animals were allegedly forced to endure squalid conditions inside the St. Andrews Lane home, where high ammonia levels and overflowing garbage forced authorities to later condemn the residence.
News 12 first reported in June that a total of 166 cats and kittens were recovered, including a dead kitten and another cat that died while being transported for emergency veterinary treatment.
Hazard personnel detected ammonia levels ranging from 6 to 18 parts per million throughout the home, with ammonia even emanating from the home, officials say.
Veterinarians determined the conditions left every cat suffering from upper respiratory infections of varying severity, while nearly half also had eye infections, prosecutors said. They say many of the animals showed signs of prolonged neglect and lacked adequate medical care.
In one case, a cat's eye had to be surgically removed after a chronic respiratory infection went untreated. Prosecutors say the eye injury had been visibly infected and bulging for weeks.
Veterinarians also found that none of the cats had been properly vaccinated.
The rescued animals were transferred to numerous rescue organizations for treatment and care. District Attorney Anne Donnelly said the animals are now "on the path to finding loving homes" through the efforts of prosecutors and the ASPCA.
Horbatko was released following her arraignment. The court issued a temporary ban on possessing animals and granted two orders of protection.
She is due back in court on Nov. 19 and if convicted faces up to two years in jail.
