The family says that the conditions that the animals lived in on 333 Rose Road were a result of the damage done to the property after Hurricane Sandy. Fallsburg police say that’s not the case.
"I don’t think conditions like that happen overnight. That’s something that’s happened over years. I’m not saying a tree limb, here there, didn’t get blown down into a pen but the amount of feces that were in the pen is something that accumulates over years," said Detective Brendan Pavese.
When authorities arrived in the morning, two cocker spaniels were tied by a rope to a pickup truck. The rabbits were in hand-made chicken coops covered with feces. Goats were crowded into fenced enclosures on muddy ground. The property was strewn with detritus and hoarded items. Large rats were running around.
“This is the worst I have ever seen,” said Joanne Gerow, Fallsburg’s animal control officer.
About fifty animals were removed from the Woodbourne home on Tuesday. Off camera, the Wagner family says that assumptions were made based on their dogs being tied to a car. They also say they have been asking the town of Fallsburg to assist their 81-year-old mother with her property and that they have been trying to sell their animals on Craigslist. Police say the family was not unfairly targeted.
"We entered the property last week and found numerous goats, rabbits, chickens and geese living in deplorable conditions with mud, feces, the cages were loaded with scrap metal and trees sticking up. It was just a terrible scene," Pavese added.
[Another articles says 21 adult and baby goats, 23 rabbits, four geese, four chickens and two Cocker Spaniels were on the property.]
Police say a terrible scene, but family say a terrible misunderstanding.
Donald Wagner is out of jail on a $6,000 bond. Meanwhile, the animals are in the care of a Fallsburg animal control officer.
The Wagners will have to show up for a Wednesday scheduled hearing.
(YNN Hudson Valley - Dec 9, 2012)
