Queens Man 'Tortured' Dogs, Cats Found Starving In Home: DA

QUEENS, NY — A Queens man tortured 13 dogs and cats found starving, emaciated and stuffed into filth-ridden tiny cages in his home, prosecutors said.

Corey Elder, 43, faces animal cruelty charges after authorities seized the malnourished pets last week, authorities said.

Police found 11 dogs and two cats, all in cages too small for them that were covered with urine and feces, prosecutors said.

"As alleged, the defendant tortured these animals," said Melinda Katz, district attorney for Queens, in a statement.

"They were abused, malnourished, and kept confined."

The animal cruelty bust isn't the only criminal trouble Elder faces.

Cops also found nearly 70 envelopes with heroin, five fentanyl pills and .45-caliber ammunition in his Edgemere home along Beach 44th Street, prosecutors said.

"The treatment plus the ammunition and drugs that were recovered leaves the defendant facing 12 years in prison," Katz said.

Prosecutors also charged Elder with burglary on accusations he and two other men broke into a smoke shop Feb. 3 in Rosedale.

Elder was arraigned Sunday on charges connected to the animal cruelty case, officials said.

The dogs and cats in the animal cruelty case are now under the care of American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals workers, authorities said.

"Once authorities observed the conditions these dogs and cats were living in, it was clear they were not receiving adequate care, and we were able to work together to quickly bring these animals to safety," said Matt Bershadker, president and CEO for the ASPCA, in a statement.

"This case illustrates the lifesaving impact of the ASPCA's decade-long partnership with the NYPD."