RVC animals in need of new homes

Two weeks after the horrific discovery of 16 neglected dogs and cats and 24 dead animals at 14 Montauk Ave., Town of Hempstead officials said Monday that the pets recovered from the house were ready for adoption.

“The animals are in good condition,” said Mike Deery, a town spokesman. “They’ve received fluids, nutrition and much-needed care … They’re ready for new families.”

Deery said that the two women who lived in the Montauk Avenue house, Faith Ross, 54, and her daughter, Francesca Maselli, 23, who have been charged with animal cruelty, relinquished ownership of the dogs and cats on Jan. 21, enabling the town to become the new owner.

“Thanks to the caring shelter workers, the animals are ready to begin a new life in a loving home,” Town Supervisor Kate Murray said in a press release. “Anyone interested in adopting these wonderful pets can call the Animal Shelter [in Wantagh] at (516) 785-5220.”

The rescued pets include six Chihuahuas, three dachshunds, a terrier, an English bulldog, a Shih Tzu, a boxer and two cats.

Another dog, a collie, was still recovering at a local animal hospital and could be ready for adoption within a week.

Ross and Maselli were arraigned on Jan. 15 in Nassau County First District Court in Hempstead, where they pleaded not guilty to three felony counts of aggravated cruelty to animals and 15 misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty. Each was held on $95,000 cash bail or $190,000 bond. If convicted, the pair could face up to two years in prison.

The women were arrested on Jan. 14, after Building Department engineers, village police, firefighters and Town of Hempstead animal control agents, who were called to the scene, discovered the animals in the house, along with the carcasses of seven cats, six dogs, five parrots, five ferrets and one lizard.

Following a second, similar incident in the village two weeks ago, 19 neglected dogs recovered from a house at 83 Clinton Ave. could be ready for adoption this week, town spokeswoman Susan Trenkle-Pokalsky said. On Jan. 12, town animal control officers discovered the dogs — along with four dead dogs and a dead cat — in the house, whose occupant, a 62-year-old woman, was taken to Mercy Medical Center for medical and psychiatric evaluation. She was not charged.

“It’s extremely unfortunate that these incidents happened at all,” said Rockville Centre Mayor Mary Bossart. “We did everything we could to respond to them … we hope all the animals find better homes, whether back in Rockville Centre or somewhere else.”