CHEEKTOWAGA, N.Y. — A welfare check on a dog turned into a bigger rescue than expected for the SPCA Serving Erie County at a Cheektowaga home and garage.
Thursday morning, SPCA Officer Melina Homsi and Agent Molly McLaughlin came across a shocking find. Agent McLaughlin heard noises and smelled terrible odors coming from the garage of the home, eventually finding several farm animals that she saw through a broken window.
The SPCA officers found 117 chickens, 18 ducks, two goats, and a pig in the garage. More than one-hundred of the chickens were crammed into two small pens in the garage. The pens were packed by six-inches of feces.
Seven rabbits were also rescued from a hutch in the yard. Two dogs, one cat, and eight rabbits were taken from inside the home.
"There was not one drop of water available for them. So, you know, it was really rewarding actually to spend almost nine hours on this case yesterday and to get them back here to these clean cages, and the ducks especially to watch them what they looked like when we brought them in compared to what they look like today is just astounding. They cleaned themselves, they took baths, they look fabulous, and that's just in 24 hours," said Chief Lindsey Wood from the SPCA.
The SPCA told 2 On Your Side that the exact number of animals involved in the rescue is still being investigated, however, there were multiple dead animals and body parts from chickens found throughout the area.
"The minute that the door was door was opened, just the smell of feces, urine, and decay overwhelmed the nostrils. It was completely, it just burned your skin walking in there, and there was only one way to go in which was through the garage and the feces pack was almost five to six inches deep, and it was quite, quite pungent," said Wood.
After rescuing the animals they were immediately transported to the SPCA in West Seneca where they were cleaned, fed, housed, and given exams.
“In just 24 hours, seeing a total transformation of the fowl from filth and distress to clean, comfortable, and happy is most rewarding, and why we do this job every day,” Wood said. “Our team worked together well into the night and started all over again today to ensure these animals are shown the proper respect and care they were not given previously.”
Though the animals are currently being cared for, they have not been signed over to the SPCA Serving Erie County yet.
"It is still under investigation, but it's my understand that there were over 100 animals that were taken from this home in Cheektowaga. Animals that, like, I can't believe are at a home in Cheektowaga, like, like, a pig," said Erie County District Attorney John Flynn.
2 On Your Side is not naming the property owner because animal cruelty charges are still pending.
If you'd like to help with the Cheektowaga animal rescue you can do so here.