Prosecutors say Long Island's livestock sanctuary faces a 112-count neglect of animals that allegedly robbed dozens of animals from food, water and shelters.
Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney visited Manorville's Double D Bar Ranch last month in a press release Friday, investigators “received numerous complaints regarding the welfare of animals on property.”
Animals, including cattle, goats, horses, pigs, sheep, alpacas and even peacocks, were deprived of food, water and shelter, according to the District Attorney's Office.
“Dental disease, tumors, mats, untreated wounds, la bones, respiratory infections, arthritis, weakness, swelling body parts, overgrown kneeves, nails, nails, etc., and more, and suffer from diseases. It was there.
Anthrozologist and humane Long Island director John De Leonardo helped the county rescue dozens of animals from the property, but he still had hundreds more animals left. I said that.
“It's filthy. There's a pile of dung, and there's an animal's corpse in a cage with a living animal,” he told the Post.
Di Leonardo and his colleagues spotted a chicken with a parasite on their legs and a broken comb from frostbite. One Gantt, a malnourished mule, was a sign of “extreme and chronic distress,” swaying from side to side.
The website claims that Double D Bar Ranch was launched in 1999 when the family owner purchased 50 neglected animals from the farm next to the property. It eventually became a charity shelter for abused and abandoned animals, raising funds through donations and charity drives.
Ranch defense lawyers Nora Constance Marino and Joseph Murray argued that the ranch did not abuse their adopters. Reported by Newsday.
But Di Leonardo, whose organization regularly visits scenes of abuse, said ranch owner Richard Deveo showed all the traits of the obsessive hoarding.
“Hoarding is sick and I wouldn't be surprised if that's what's going on here. The hoarding guy who turned his forced into business.”
Di Leonardo says the owner asked the authorities not to take the chickens, and when the rescuer carried the peacock, saying they were his “biggest money creators,” He said, “You're taking my main attraction!”
“He sees this as business, but animal sanctuaries are not business.”
