Fire alarms inside of a West Hills home led to the discovery of more than 100 emaciated and dead animals Wednesday morning.
Firefighters responded to the alarm at approximately 11 a.m., where they discovered the abused animals, including a pony, three goats, one cat, and dozens of dogs. There was no fire, officials said.
Roy Gross, Chief of the Suffolk County SPCA, said the ammonia in the air from the urine-soaked house likely triggered the alarms to go off. Gross said the smell was so strong that firefighters initially couldn’t go in, but had to wait for protective gear and breathing apparatuses.
In addition to the dozens of animals found on the sprawling property, which has a three-car garage and a barn, several dead dogs were found in the kitchen sink and a bathtub, officials said.
Michael and Marilyn Gladstein, the owners of the house, returned home Wednesday night. They were arrested by SPCA detectives and charged with animal cruelty, including a felony for the emaciated pony. The couple was taken to the Second Precinct for processing, officials said.
Gross said the animals are now being cared for at the Huntington Animal Shelter. He described them as living in “deplorable conditions” with no food or water.
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