New York: Emiliano Zapata, 47, charged with animal cruelty after farm slaughterhouse raided

NEW YORK -- The Chief of Hudson Valley SPCA Law Enforcement Division Gene Hecht said it's one of the worst cases of animal abuse he's ever seen.

“It was just terrible, no food, no water, skinny animals, dead animals, lying in the field, that weren’t properly disposed of,” said Hecht.

Around 200 starving, dehydrated and sick animals were rescued from a farm off of Route 416 in Hamptonburgh over the weekend. Most of them were sent to local animal sanctuaries.

“These pigs, they lived in animal hell, dark pit, six inches deep in manure, they were not able to rut, they were malnourished,” said Jeff Lydon, the Director of Operations for Woodstock Farm Sanctuary.

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.

Officials said they waited for the owner of the farm animals to return from Mexico and gave him a list of things to do to bring his treatment of the animals in line with the law.

“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.

 “He told my parents Thursday you need a vet, I was calling vets to come see them and next thing you know Saturday people are here.”

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.

She said she feels they are being targeted because her parents do not speak English well. She also said the animals were well cared for.

“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.

Woodstock Farm Sanctuary, where 20 of the animals were taken said now the focus needs to be on getting the animals the treatment they need.

"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.

 

 

The Hudson Valley News Network reports, the animals were going to be slaughtered for food. A thrown-together slaughterhouse equipped with chainsaws was located next to the barns. The farm was apparently used by people who run a restaurant serving farm fresh meat.

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)