Samantha Boyd, 57, of New York, was taken into custody by the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office after authorities got a tip claiming she was hoarding animals at her Northport home, which was also registered as a certified wildlife rehabilitation center. When officials arrived, they were surprised to discover the house filthy, indicating extremely unclean circumstances. Authorities discovered over 200 animals, most of which resided in overcrowded, waste-filled cages. Even the available food and water were unsafe for ingestion.
Boyd cared for a variety of animals, including cats, dogs, squirrels, ducks, pigeons, hedgehogs, parakeets, and more. Surprisingly, investigators also found Boyd’s 95-year-old mother, who had been confined to the second story of the house. Her chamber was inaccessible and appeared to be blocked by piles of debris. The entire house was filled with spiders, insects, and other pests, showing severe neglect. District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney personally visited the Northport residence and described the situation as “deeply distressing.” Even more horrific, both the elderly woman and the animals were living in similarly deplorable conditions.
Speaking about the circumstances in which the senior citizen was found, Tierney said, “She was essentially trapped upstairs, and it took a bit to get her out of the house.”
Suffolk County Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina added, “The level of neglect was unconscionable. The animals were in poor condition and living in squalor. Animal cruelty and neglect will not be tolerated in our county. More than 200 animals, including cats, dogs, ferrets, and birds, were rescued from Boyd’s home, where conditions were deplorable.”
Samantha Boyd’s mother was removed from her house and is currently receiving care and treatment. Boyd, along with her 61-year-old partner, Neal Weschler, has been charged with animal cruelty under the pretext of care and endangering an elderly person.
Because Samantha and Neal were licensed wildlife rehabilitators, the case has sparked even greater concern among animal environmentalists worldwide. Animal activist John Di Leonardo expressed his extreme dissatisfaction, adding, “Your wildlife license does not allow you to begin hoarding wild animals and keeping them as pets.”” This is a widespread problem.
Meanwhile, the District Attorney’s Office overseeing the case has contacted many animal rescue organizations. These organizations have stepped up to give shelter, medical care, and additional rehabilitation for the 206 animals rescued from Boyd’s Northport residence. We expect many of the animals to be available for adoption.
District Attorney Raymond Tierney also shared an update on how the neglected animals are being cared for. His statement read: “This was a deeply distressing situation, but thanks to the swift action and collaboration between our office and our dedicated rescue partners, these animals are now safe and receiving the care they urgently need.”
Surprisingly, Samantha Boyd has pled not guilty to the continuing case. Her companion, Neal Weschler, has yet to enter a plea while the inquiry is ongoing to assess his amount of involvement in the disturbing circumstance that has horrified many.