Photo Courtesy of Google
Grant’s alleged house of pet horrors on 82nd Street in Jackson Heights.
By Forum Staff
A Jackson Heights woman has been charged with failure to provide proper food and drink to animals and other charges for allegedly keeping more than 50 pets in unsanitary living conditions, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced Thursday.
Elizabeth Grant, 53, was arraigned last Wednesday night on a 54-count complaint charging her with failure to provide proper food and drink to impounded animal and criminal contempt in the second degree. On Nov. 28, Grant was also charged in a second 87-count complaint and arraigned on failure to provide proper food and drink to impounded animals, criminal contempt in the second degree and overdriving, torturing and injuring animals/failing to provide sustenance charges. Grant has been ordered to return to court on March 2.
File Photo
“Pets are not inanimate toys. They are living, breathing members of our households who, at a bare minimum, deserve to be cared for and kept healthy,” DA Katz said.
According to the charges, on Nov. 26, a New York City Adult Protective Services employee arrived at Grant’s 82nd Street home to do a wellness check on her elderly mother. While in the home, the official allegedly observed dogs, cats, turtles, guinea pigs, and a rabbit in the home. The employee also stated that upon entering the home, he was struck by the heavy smell of ammonia from urine and could see excessive feces all over the floor.
The employee also indicated that he had observed that animals were allegedly without food or water; their coats appeared to be matted with dirt and feces and discharge was observed in the animals’ noses and eyes. Many of the pets were emaciated and one dog had blood stains around its mouth. Another canine was observed to have a rash under its eye.
Katz said that members of NYC Animal Care Centers were dispatched to the home on Nov. 26 and rescued a total of 29 animals, but some of the pets scurried away and could not be captured. Last Wednesday, officers of the 115th NYPD Precinct executed a court-authorized warrant to enter Grant’s home where the other 23 cats were rescued, along with eight fish. Members of the ASPCA were present and removed those animals and took them into their care and custody for forensic evaluation.
Katz noted that Grant is banned from owning, harboring or having possession of any animals per a court order that remains in effect through April 30, 2028.
“Pets are not inanimate toys. They are living, breathing members of our households who, at a bare minimum, deserve to be cared for and kept healthy,” Katz added. “Instead, this defendant is alleged to have kept her pets in filth with unaddressed diseases and other ailments.”
If convicted, Grant faces up to three years in prison.
