Police made a horrific discovery at a Bayswater home in the Rockaways early Monday morning when they executed a search warrant.
Detectives from the NYPD 101st Precinct found 11 emaciated dogs and two cats that were living in inhumane conditions at a house located at 474 Beach 44th St., at the corner of Edgemere Drive. The animals, cops said, showed signs of neglect and malnourishment. The NYPD contacted the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, who rescued the suffering animals.
The search warrant was executed pertaining to a grand larceny investigation. During the raid, cops said they also recovered heroin, fentanyl, stolen tools and DJ equipment.
Cory Elder, 43, was taken into custody and booked at the 101st Precinct where he was charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, torture/injure/not feeding animal, neglect of impounded animal, criminal possession of stolen property and aggravated unlicensed operator of a motor vehicle.
One of the dogs that was found was stolen during a burglary that took place within the confines of the 75th Precinct in Brooklyn. The NYPD’s Animal Cruelty Investigation Squad is investigating the incident.
“At the urgent request of the New York City Police Department, the ASPCA was on the ground in Rockaway, Queens assisting with the removal of 11 dogs and two cats found living in filthy conditions during the execution of a search warrant,” the ASPCA said in a statement.
“The animals were immediately transported to the ASPCA’s care, where veterinary and behavior experts are conducting forensic exams and providing them with much-needed medical care and behavioral treatment and enrichment.”
The NYPD released images of the possibly stolen animals on Tuesday and asked for the public’s assistance to potentially reunite owners with their animals once they recover.
Anyone with information in regard to this incident is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at crimestoppers.nypdonline.org, or on X (the platform formerly known as Twitter) @NYPDTips. All calls and messages are kept confidential.
