Police arrested a Central Islip man Sunday for allegedly housing neglected horses.

Officials from the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals seized five horses from Salvatore Gondolfo's Hawthorne Avenue property. The Town of Islip says it has issued 19 summonses to the property owner since 2002, including two for failure to maintain a horsing permit.

Neighbors say they watched the horses deteriorate and they say the owner's neglect affected their own living conditions.

"My children and I were crying, it's horrible. We have called to the town for years and complained about that property - the lack of them cleaning up after the horses [and] the fly infestation," says Cindy Prawki.

The Prawkis say they're relieved the horses have been removed.

"Hopefully they will get better and somebody will feed them and take care of them," Prawki says.