Animal rescue workers in New York were shocked after discovering more than 40 dogs inside a cramped, filthy apartment, in what they described as one of the most traumatic cases of animal neglect they had ever seen.

"These dogs have likely never touched grass, never been on a leash, and never met a stranger," said Bayana Tamimi, director of veterinary medicine at Animal Care Centers of New York (ACC).

Members of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) and Animal Care Centers (ACC) responded to the seventh-floor apartment in Forest Hills, Queens, after a report that the owner had been evicted and had to give up his animals.

Upon arrival, they found 48 Belgian Malinois dogs and puppies living in squalid conditions.

According to the ACC, some of the dogs were found crammed into closets and dressers, while others were stacked in cramped spaces without ventilation or sunlight.

Officials confirmed that three of the dogs had to be euthanized, while rescue workers spent two full days removing the remaining dogs from the home.

"These dogs had apparently lived their entire lives in complete isolation," said Tara Mercado, director of animal behavior and shelter operations at ACC. "We found adult Malinois dogs hidden inside closets and behind furniture." Neighbors, who were unaware of the large number of dogs, said a foul odor always emanated from the floor, and that the apartment owner—whose name has not been revealed—used to throw dog feces from his balcony.

One resident told the New York Post, "We always wondered why the smell was so bad. We thought he had two or three dogs, and we never imagined there would be that many. We never saw them."

Another neighbor reported hearing dogs barking constantly, and added that her mother saw the apartment owner kick one of his dogs.

The owner reportedly worked in airport security and was known to have a trained sniffer dog.

ACC explained that many of these dogs would require long-term care before they were ready for adoption, given their lack of human interaction throughout their lives.

Source: New York Post - Published 14-05-2025 - https://ar.rt.com/zve1