30 abandoned cats were horrifically discovered by two teen bicyclists alongside Southern State Parkway in a wooded area in Farmingdale, with the unfortunate felines confined in cages and left exposed to the elements without food or water and covered in their own waste, reports say.
The grim find occurred approximately on Tuesday, April 29, 200 feet into the woods near Exit 31, sparking an animal cruelty investigation by the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office.
"We are investigating whether the cats were abandoned, we are investigating the conditions in which they were living, we are investigating what, if any, food and water they were receiving," said District Attorney Anne Donnelly.
However, a man named Thomas McDermott arrived at the Oyster Bay Animal Shelter Wednesday morning, saying that the abandoned cats were his and that he had moved them out of his house due to alleged abuse by his brother.
"They are my life, they are everything to me, they're my best friends, they're my family," McDermott was reportedly quoted as saying.
But Oyster Bay Supervisor Joseph Saladindo said that McDermott himself is apparently undomiciled, with his mother having taken out a restraining order against him.
"I believe he's admitted he's homeless, he doesn't have the funds to care for himself, let alone 30 cats that need healthy food," Saladindo said.
Animal rescuers took the cats to the Oyster Bay Animal Shelter, where they are currently receiving treatment and vaccinations, and eventually will be made available for adoption. However, for the time being, they will remain being cared for at the shelter as evidence in the DA Office's possible criminal investigation.