Islip-Hortenhaus: Father and son accused of animal cruelty after dozens of cats found in Long Island home

ISLIP, County of Suffolk (WABC) — A father and his son were arrested Tuesday night on multiple animal cruelty charges after more than two dozen cats were found in their home in hoarding conditions.

Police were called to the Lake Street home following reports of animal cruelty.

They saw several cats roaming outside and noticed a strong smell of ammonia coming from the house.

Officials say the cats were overcrowded indoors with scant food and no water.

Investigators confiscated five cages and two containers containing 26 cats. The cats were taken to the Islip Animal Shelter for examination.

Gary Verga, 72, and Daniel Verga, 39, were arrested and charged each with 10 counts of failing to adequately feed an animal and 10 counts of failing to provide a confiscated animal with adequate food and drink.

“As a cat owner myself, I’m just appalled by this case and just glad we were able to save these cats,” said Rodney Harrison, Suffolk County Police Commissioner.

Police say it all started on November 29 when emergency services were called home because Gary Verga was having trouble breathing. EMS then had difficulty entering the house because Verga had piled garbage up to the ceiling.

The Vergas were cited by the city, but when a contractor came to fix things a month later, there was so much hoarding he couldn’t even reach the second floor, where the cats were barely fed and living in just seven cages were found

Local residents said the stench and trash in the dilapidated home had been a problem for years.

“It’s awful, I mean you used to walk past the house and there were computers in the woods just junk spewing out everywhere,” neighbor Neil Capolongo said.

They said they actually assumed that nobody lived in the house anymore.

The Vergas will appear in court on Thursday.

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