“It was just terrible, no food, no water, skinny animals, dead animals, lying in the field, that weren’t properly disposed of,” said Hecht.
Hecht said the investigation first started late last month when the Town of Montgomery police were contacted for reports of a sheep in the road. Eventually the SPCA got involved.
“I waited to the end of the week and I went back and he never did a thing, so we got a search warrant, a search and seizure warrant and that’s when we entered the premises.”
But the owner's daughter tells a different story. Wendy Zapata said her father 47- year-old Emiliano Zapata wasn't given enough time to comply.
Duh, if he only gave your father a short window to get in compliance and take care of these animals properly, that means IT WAS BAD! She's an idiot.
“I was seeing [pictures] on Facebook. It takes two people to carry a goat or a sheep. Come on now they’re heavy, they’re fed right,” said Zapata.
Officers found about 20 dead animals rotting in the fields as well as body parts on burn piles where they burned the animals' bodies.
"All of the animal that have come here, have come here to stay for the rest of their lives and they are going to have the best possible care,” said Lydon.
The sanctuary said caring for the animal’s medical treatment will cost thousands of dollars. If you would like to donate visit their web page here.
Other animals were taken to the Watkins Glen Farm Sanctuary and the Catskill Animal Sanctuary.
According to the Times Herald Record, 47-year-old Emiliano Zapata, of Newburgh, has been charged with neglect and unlawful disposal of animals. Zapata is due in Hamptonburgh court on November 17th.
(TWC News - Oct 12, 2015)