Nearly 100 cats were hauled out of a Glen Cove home Tuesday after authorities say they found rooms so saturated with urine and feces that the city moved to condemn the property on the spot. The homeowner was arrested, the house was declared unfit for occupancy, and dozens of animals were rushed to local shelters for medical care. Neighbors say the situation had been obvious for years, and rescue groups are now racing to find space for the flood of cats.
According to NBC New York, officers and volunteers in hazmat suits and breathing masks reported “an overwhelming odor of urine and ammonia throughout the residence” when they went inside the multi-story house. Police said they counted roughly 65 cats on the premises at the time and estimated the total could approach 100 animals. Investigators also reported seeing two dogs in the backyard and said an 18-year-old daughter called 911, telling dispatchers that she and her younger sister were having trouble breathing because of the stench.
Neighbors, rescuers describe the scene
Local reporting described filth and waste layered across multiple floors, with several cats visibly ill and in need of veterinary care. ABC7 reported that the homeowner, identified in court as 54-year-old Olena Horbatko, appeared before a judge Tuesday, and that neighbors told investigators they believed the hoarding had been going on for years.
Charges and next hearing
Horbatko was charged with 67 counts of animal cruelty, two counts of reckless endangerment and one count of endangering the welfare of a child, according to ABC7. Court records and reporting state that she was released on her own recognizance and is scheduled to return to Glen Cove court on June 15.
Shelters scramble to help
The Nassau County SPCA and local shelters have taken in many of the animals and are coordinating with additional rescues as space quickly runs short, according to the Nassau County SPCA. Rescuers say a significant number of the cats will require medication and follow-up veterinary care for respiratory and eye infections before they can be evaluated for adoption.
Legal context
New York law outlaws cruelty and neglect of animals under the Agriculture & Markets statutes, including Agriculture & Markets Law §353 and related sections, while aggravated cruelty is separately covered under §353-a. Under these statutes, humane law enforcement officers and police are authorized to seize animals and refer cases to prosecutors, as outlined in state code and accompanying legal summaries.
How to report suspected neglect
Local officials and rescue groups say that anyone who suspects hoarding or animal neglect should report it to authorities rather than assume someone else will make the call. The Nassau County SPCA maintains resources for reporting abuse and coordinating rescues. For details on how to report suspected cruelty and for updates on the animals from this case, visit the Nassau County SPCA.
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