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Grant allegedly hoarded and neglected 67 dogs and cats in her 82nd Street home.
By Forum Staff
A Queens grand jury has indicted a Jackson Heights, Queens, woman on felony aggravated cruelty to animals charges and numerous other crimes in relation to 67 animals housed in her home.
Veterinary professionals that examined the cats and dogs allegedly found extreme health problems from malnutrition to respiratory infections and many other painful conditions. At least one dog was in such failing health she had to be euthanized. “The defendant is accused of permitting her numerous pets to live in deplorable conditions. The home’s floor and furnishings were allegedly covered in feces, fur and urine. Rescue workers stepping inside the dwelling, were overwhelmed bythe smell of ammonia and had to wear respirators to breathe, as well as protective clothing. No person or animal should live in such wretched conditions,” District AttorneyBrown said.
The defendant is identified as Elizabeth Grant, of 25-44 82 nd Street in the Jackson Heights section. Grant was arraigned before Queens Supreme Court Justice Barry Kron on a 138-count indictment charging her with four counts of aggravated cruelty to animals, 66 counts of overdriving, torturing or injuring an animal and 66 counts of failure to provide proper food and drink to an impounded animal.
If convicted, the 48-year-old faces up to two years on each of the four felony counts. Grant was ordered back to court on January 10, 2017.
According to the charges, a crime prevention officer went to the defendant’s home on January 6, 2016, to visit Grant’s mother, an elderly crime victim. Although there was no answer to the officer’s knock at the door, the door was open and the officer allegedly observed numerous animals inside the home and that the interior of the residence was filthy. The officer returned to the home on January 28, 2016, with members of the ASPCA, at which time the defendant’s elderly mother answered the door.
At that time the officer allegedly noticed excessive amounts of feces, fur and the smell of urine throughout the main floor, along with numerous flies. The home was strewn with clutter and trash and the home’s ceiling was peeling and rotting.
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 when the officer returned to the defendant’s home with members of the ASPCA, 55 cats, 12 dogs and two turtles were rescued.
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.
