A Glen Cove woman has been indicted on 166 counts after authorities discovered 166 cats and kittens living in allegedly unsafe conditions inside her St. Andrews Lane home, Nassau County prosecutors said.
Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly announced Friday that Alena Horbatko, 54, was indicted following an investigation that began June 7, when Glen Cove Police responded to the residence after receiving a report of animal hoarding.
Police found more than 100 cats inside the home, along with garbage and clutter that made it difficult to walk through the residence, prosecutors said. Hazardous-materials personnel returned the following day and detected elevated levels of ammonia inside the house.
Authorities subsequently searched the home and recovered 166 cats and kittens. Prosecutors said one kitten was found dead and another cat died while being transported for veterinary treatment.
The surviving animals suffered from varying medical conditions, including respiratory and eye infections, according to the district attorney’s office.
Horbatko was indicted on one count of aggravated cruelty to animals, 163 counts of overdriving, torturing and injuring animals or failure to provide proper sustenance, one additional count of failure to provide proper sustenance and one count of endangering the welfare of a child.
She pleaded not guilty and was released on her own recognizance. A judge issued a temporary animal ban and two orders of protection.
Horbatko is scheduled to return to court Nov. 19.
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