Neglected, Dead Animals Found In Kings Park Home; Woman Arrested: Suffolk SPCA

KINGS PARK, NY — A Kings Park woman was charged with animal cruelty after dead animals, as well as live animals in "overcrowded" conditions, were found in her home on Saturday, the Suffolk County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals stated.

Cazandra Nucci, 42, was charged with multiple misdemeanor animal cruelty charges, as well as possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia, after her home was searched through a warrant by Suffolk SPCA detectives, said Roy Gross, chief of the agency.

Nucci was accused of neglecting 11 sugar gliders — nocturnal gliding possums — and nine cats in her care by "failing to provide a safe and clean environment," the Suffolk SPCA stated. Detectives also found nine dead sugar gliders and one dead snake in the home, officials said.

Detectives found the home that the animals were confined inside had "noxious air and odor of feces, urine, and rot were so pungent, it made personnel cough and gag upon entry and stung their eyes," the Suffolk SPCA wrote.

The animals found indoors were in an "overcrowded area of hoarded garbage over six feet high" in some spaces, officials said. Dozens of apparent drug paraphernalia were strewn about the residence, authorities said. Crack cocaine and MDMA were recovered, along with the nine sugar gliders, the Suffolk SPCA stated.

"The conditions inside were so extreme that personnel had to crawl over the piles of debris inside," the agency wrote.

The home was placarded as unfit for human occupancy by the Town of Smithtown Code Enforcement, officials said.

Nucci was arrested on Saturday, booked at the Suffolk County Police Department Fourth Precinct and released, the Suffolk SPCA wrote. Nucci is scheduled to appear at First District Court in Central Islip on Feb. 28.

The animals will soon be available for adoption at the Smithtown Animal Shelter, officials said.

The search warrant was executed with help from the Suffolk County Police Department’s Emergency Services Unit, Homicide Section, 4th Precinct Patrol, Suffolk County District Attorney's Office BEAST Unit, Town of Smithtown’s Fire Marshal’s Office, Code Enforcement and Animal Shelter, authorities said.

The Suffolk County SPCA stated it remains committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all animals in the county.

"If you witness any incident of animal cruelty or neglect in Suffolk County, please contact the Suffolk County SPCA at 631-382-7722," the agency wrote.