14 Cats, 2 Dogs, Covered In Urine In 'Squalor' Bayport Home: SPCA

BAYPORT, NY — A Bayport woman was arrested and charged with animal cruelty on Monday after she failed to maintain a habitable living environment for her 14 cats and two dogs, allowing them to live in squalor, Roy Gross, Chief of the Suffolk SPCA said.

SPCA detectives, Suffolk County Police Department and Suffolk County Sheriff's Department, recovered the 14 cats and two dogs from the home of Laura Nordstrom, 57, after executing a search warrant.

Many of the animals were underweight, dehydrated and covered in urine, SPCA said.

The lack of habitability was evidenced by the extensive amount of urine, feces, mold and mildew strewn about the home.

In addition, the air quality inside the home was so poor and punctuated by the smell of ammonia, that investigators had difficulty breathing in that environment, SPCA said.

Staff from the non-profit Paws Unite People assisted with the rescue.

Nordstrom was charged with multiple misdemeanor animal cruelty charges, alleging that she failed to provide a habitable living environment for the cats and dogs living in her home.

She is scheduled to appear at First District Court in Central Islip, on Nov. 24.

Animal cruelty will not be tolerated in Suffolk County, SPCA said.

If you witness any incident of animal cruelty or neglect in Suffolk County please contact the Suffolk County SPCA at (631) 382-7722.