An elderly widow from Long Island has been charged with animal cruelty after authorities discovered close to 100 cats, alive and deceased, in a house that was unsanitary and filled with feces.
Stephen Grantz, 75, a resident of Suffolk County, was taken into custody by the county’s animal cruelty prevention organization for allegedly keeping the animals in distressing conditions.
First responders retrieved 28 dead cats from his residence on Westminster Drive in Bohemia on Saturday. Following that, a veterinarian compelled the SPCA chief, Roy Gross, to remove three additional adult cats. Ultimately, they found 69 more cats alive, including eight kittens.
“About 20 cats were found in the freezer,” Gross reported during an interview.
The conditions inside the house were described as appalling; it was covered in feces, soaked in urine, and the floor felt sponge-like due to the filth. “The smell was overpowering,” one investigator said, noting the strong odor.
The investigation began when the SPCA received reports of potential animal cruelty at the residence, where Grantz and his late wife had lived for three decades.
According to Gross, the house has become uninhabitable.
For years, cats had been drawn to the dimly lit property, as Grantz and his spouse had been feeding them.
After his wife passed away a few weeks prior, Grantz found himself alone amidst the growing number of cats.
He faces nine charges of animal cruelty and is said to have been unable to care for the animals housed there. Each charge is classified as a misdemeanor, potentially leading to a year’s imprisonment or a fine of up to $1,000. However, if convicted on all counts, he’s unlikely to face a harsh penalty.
Gross mentioned that Grantz would be registered to prevent him from owning pets for five years.
All the rescued cats have been relocated to the ISLIP animal shelter for continued care.
On the Sunday prior to his arrest, Grantz chose not to comment while sitting in a car outside his home as a reporter approached him.
