25-44 82 Street
April 26, 2016 By Christian Murray
A Jackson Heights woman has been charged with aggravated animal cruelty for allegedly keeping more than 50 animals in an unsanitary conditions, according to the Queens District Attorney’s Office.
Elizabeth Grant, 48, allegedly kept the animals in such squalor that veterinary professionals claimed they suffered from malnutrition to respiratory infections and many other painful conditions.
At least one dog was in such poor health it had to be euthanized, according to the District Attorney.
“The defendant is accused of permitting her pets to live in deplorable conditions. The floor and furnishings in the defendant’s home were allegedly covered in feces, fur and urine,” said Queens District Attorney Richard A Brown in a statement. “The smell of ammonia was so overwhelming, animal rescue workers had to wear respirators to breathe, as well as protective clothing when entering the premises.”
Grant, who lives at 25-44 82nd Street, was arraigned today on 4 counts of aggravated cruelty to animals and 63 counts of overdriving, torturing and injuring animals; failure to provide sustenance. Grant was released on her own recognizance and ordered to return to court on May 10, 2016.
If convicted, Grant faces up to two years in prison, Brown said.
Police uncovered the alleged cruelty after an officer from the 115th Precinct went to the defendant’s home on January 6, 2016, to visit Grant’s mother, according to the complaint.
Despite no one answering the officer’s knock, the door was open and the officer allegedly observed numerous animals inside the home and that the interior was filthy.
The officer returned to the home on January 28, 2016, with members of the ASPCA, and Grant answered the door. The officer allegedly noticed excessive amounts of feces, fur and the smell of urine throughout the main floor, along with numerous flies amid extreme clutter and trash. The home’s ceiling was peeling and rotting and it is alleged that many of the animals had patches of fur missing, crusted eyes and one cat did not appear to be able to walk.
According to the complaint, a court-authorized search warrant was issued that same day and the officer returned to the defendant’s home with members of the ASPCA, who rescued 55 cats, 12 dogs and two turtles.
A licensed veterinarian and supervisor of the ASPCA’s Forensic Sciences unit examined and/or supervised the examination of the 67 cats and dogs and determined that many had dental diseases, ear mites, respiratory infections, as well as pain and discomfort from a host of other ailments.
A dog by the name of Dorothy was allegedly vomiting and had diarrhea related to chronic kidney and liver disease. A large part of her coat was matted with feces and she had severe dental disease and a chronic illness associated with her digestive system. Due to Dorothy’s extremely poor health a decision was made to euthanize her.
Brown listed the condition of other animals outlined in the criminal complaint:
* A dog named Bond was allegedly dehydrated and weak. His fur had a foul stench and was matted with feces and urine. Bond showed signs he was in pain with every movement and his skin was inflamed. His overgrown claws were caked with fecal matter that caused inflammation of his paws and made it painful to walk. He also had an untreated kidney infection, severe dental disease and many of his teeth had rotted out.
* A cat named Augustus was allegedly emaciated from prolonged lack of food. Augustus also had a severe dental disease, an ear mite infection in both ears and suffered with blood-filled ear flaps.
* A dog named Ewok had an unpleasant stench coming from his fur and a swollen eyelid gland. The dog’s urethra protruded from the end of his penis and he experienced discomfort from both an ocular and ear disease.
* A cat named Gracie allegedly had cerebellar hypoplasia, a problem with balance due to a virus infection as well as scarring from an untreated ear mite infection.
Only two animals, cats named Howie and Kobe, did not show any significant health abnormalities.
Police Officer Lorraine Vultaggio (center) who discovered the alleged cruelty
