Suffolk SPCA: Mastic Beach Man Charged with Starving 76 Cats, Including 5 Kittens

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Barry Powers, 58, was keeping the cats living in deplorable conditions, cops say.

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One of the cats seized from the accused, Barry Powers.

Photo by: Suffolk County SPCA

Suffolk County SPCA Detectives charged a Mastic Beach man with cruelty to animals.
 
Barry Powers, 58, of Mastic Beach was charged with misdemeanor animal cruelty for failure to provide proper sustenance for 76 cats including 5 kittens. The cats were removed from the house which was deemed uninhabitable by Brookhaven Building Department. The animals were living in deplorable conditions.  
 
The Suffolk County SPCA would like to thank the  Brookhaven Animal Shelter and the Brookhaven Building Department for their assistance and cooperation. All of the cats were transported to Brookhaven Animal Shelter for further evaluation. Many of the cats needed medical care.
 
Powers is schedule to appear in First District Court on July 22, 2019.  
 
Chief Gross said that animal cruelty will not be tolerated in Suffolk County.  If you witness any incident of animal cruelty or neglect in Suffolk County please contact the Suffolk County SPCA at (631) 382-7722. All calls will be kept confidential.
 
A criminal charge is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.