I saw this story come across my Instagram feed. The more I read, the more fucking furious I became. There is always more the story, but the preface to it is this: someone was hoarding cats in their apartment. Hoarding cats can lead to incredibly hazardous health issue for both the cats and the human. It appears to have become an overwhelming situation and the occupant of the apartment was forced to be evicted.
WARNING! You will read about animal cruelty and lack of response from local agencies.
Full Story:
More than 30 cats were abandoned in a filthy Woodhaven apartment and rescued Wednesday by a local animal rescue group.
Meagan Licari, president of PuppyKittyNYCity, said she received a call for help on Wednesday, regarding someone kicking a cat out of a store and hitting it with a broomstick on Jamaica Avenue across from Forest Parkway.
The resident sent Licari a photo of three cats, and added that there were more in an abandoned apartment next door at 80-44 Jamaica Ave., so the rescue dispatched a team of volunteers to help.
“We found out there were 34 cats in the apartment,” she said. “And the tenant was evicted around Jan. 4., meaning the cats were there without food or water since then.”
According to Licari, the apartment’s landlord allegedly hired a cleaning crew, and the workers started throwing the cats out of the window. Photos and videos show the cats roaming nearby stores and the streets.
PuppyKittyNYCity’s team then called the 102nd Precinct for help. Authorities confirmed the incident to the Chronicle, and added that a total of 12 cats were reported injured.
“They have no idea [how many], because I have a majority of the cats,” Licari said. Her team entered the apartment themselves and found cats everywhere.
In a video posted to the rescue group’s Instagram page, a volunteer who was on the scene said she’d “never seen anything like that.” Cats were found in the refrigerator, in cabinets and behind radiators, all living in filth.
One of the cats had no rear legs.
Licari described the apartment as “complete squalor” and said, “I wouldn’t put my worst enemy in that apartment.”
She acknowledged that her team entering the residency was trespassing, but said the NYPD was of little help.
Licari said an officer told her the ASPCA refused to help due to her rescue group's involvement, though the ASPCA told the Chronicle it was in contact with the NYPD and their assistance was not requested.
Animal Care and Control, she said, could not make it to the scene.
She added, “I have a small, not government-funded agency, so I had to bring nine of the cats to ACC, through volunteers, just regular citizens trying to do the best they can. ... These are just regular citizens who care about animals.”
She said the ACC did not want to take in the nine cats at first, and asked the volunteers to bring them back the following day, but eventually took them.
Asked for clarification, the ACC told the Chronicle that nine cats were brought into its care and accepted “without question.”
Licari went as far as contacting Councilman Bob Holden (D-Maspeth), who then notified Councilwoman Joann Ariola (R-Ozone Park), as the neighborhood is in her district.
Ariola’s office confirmed the incident to the Chronicle and supplied the following statement:
“The 102nd Precinct went above and beyond in bringing about a resolution to this situation,” Ariola said. “The officers there began reaching out to local rescues immediately, and thanks to their fast efforts they were able to get these poor felines placed in a rescue where they can be safe and properly cared for. Kudos to the 102nd Precinct, great work!”
The incident happened near the Woodhaven office of state Sen. Joe Addabbo Jr. (D-Woodhaven). Asked if people there were aware, Addabbo’s chief of staff, Raimondo Graziano, told the Chronicle he was alerted to the situation by a constituent and went outside, gave out his card and assisted blocking off an exit in a nearby alley in case the cats lurking outside tried to run.
“I let them know if there is any way our office can assist — from asking questions of agencies contacted or helping to promote their adoption by sharing with us a flier, to please let us know,” Graziano said. “I spoke with someone over the phone yesterday, someone who also assisted in the rescue. I am currently awaiting an email with details on the incident so I can start my follow ups.”
Licari maintains that the city and law enforcement did little to help the situation, and that her team were the ones who contacted authorities in the first place.
The NYPD said its Animal Cruelty Squad had been notified and the investigation is ongoing.
PuppyKittyNYCity has a majority of the rescued cats, with nine still in the care of ACC, and some of the rest being evaluated by veterinarians.
The landlord could not be reached for comment.
UPDATE
This article was updated to paraphrase a quote from the rescue group's president and add relevant information from the ASPCA.
PuppyKitty NY City has surpassed their goal but taking in over 34 cats all at once is an incredible feat. The money raised will be depleted quickly and they deserve anything we can send their way. My Dream Meow Corner January donation will be going their rescue.
If you would like to send a donation, please follow this LINK.
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Picture here is Hero. The first cat to be rescued. The video of his rescue on their Instagram page is heartbreaking. Defeated and docile.
