EAST NORTHPORT
Town Raids Dog House
SPCA takes custody of young dogs, squirrels, parrot found in home
By Mike Koehler/ mkoehler@longislandernews.com

Emergency officials removed approximately 50 dogs, two baby squirrels and a parrot from the basement of a small house on Tuesday.

Members of the Suffolk County Society For Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) and Commack Fire Department carried animals out of the house in carriers and onto a SPCA Mobile Animal Spay-Neuter Hospital bus.

“The occupant of the house, allowed us into the basement, where the animal control officers and inspector observed 40 to 50 dogs being kept in cages and deplorable conditions,” Town of Huntington Public Safety Director Bruce Richard said.

Many of the canines he saw were young, Richard said, adding that he was quickly forced back upstairs due to the odor.

“From what I observed, there was a lot of feces and overcrowding down there. The smell was horrendous. The conditions were so bad that the inspectors placarded the house as unfit for human occupancy,” he said.

SPCA Chief Roy Gross, who was at the Wicks Road house, confirmed that the animals were “filthy,” “scabbed” and scared.

“The air quality is not sanitary to say the least,” Gross said.

A final tally was not available by late Tuesday afternoon, as firefighters and SPCA officials were still removing animals.

Gross did confirm, however, that they would be pursuing criminal charges against homeowner, Irene Hohweisner.

“She will be charged with animal cruelty,” he said, obviously irritated. “It’s being investigated as a possible puppy mill.”

Others, like neighbor Mike Miller, said Hohweisner works at a veterinarian’s office, loves animals and is well liked in the neighborhood.

“I had an Akita that was sick. She nursed it back to health with me,” Miller said.