NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — A 37-year-old man was arraigned on a 96-count criminal complaint for allegedly keeping 48 dogs inside of a "cramped, filthy" one-bedroom apartment in Queens, authorities announced Monday.
Isaac Yadgarov was charged with 48 counts of overloading, overdriving, torturing animals and 48 counts of failure to provide adequate food, water, shelter.
Members of the ASPCA, Animal Care Centers of NYC and NYPD discovered the animals on May 8, following Yadgarov’s eviction from the seventh floor apartment on 62nd Road in Forest Hills, District Attorney Melinda Katz said.
Once inside, there were 48 Belgian Malinois dogs found in the cramped apartment filled with feces, urine and debris.
According to officials, the number of dogs present at the location made it impossible for them to freely move about the apartment. A strong odor of ammonia was also present and made it difficult for the responding officials to breathe.
Three of the dogs required humane euthanasia and the remaining animals were transferred to the ASPCA and Animal Care Centers of NYC for medical evaluation, proper care and nourishment as well as socialization to prepare the dogs for future foster homes and/or adoption.
Yadgarov was not present at the time of the rescue as he had been evicted from the apartment.
On May 7, Yadgarov allegedly agreed to surrender the dogs and digitally signed forms agreeing to the surrender. Upon the discovery of the dogs, an investigation was launched by members of the Queens District Attorney’s office and NYPD Animal Cruelty Investigation Squad and Yadgarov was contacted.
Yadgarov surrendered at a local precinct on May 13.
"The defendant is accused of hoarding 48 Belgian Malinois in a cramped and filthy apartment filled with the animals’ excrement. At least three of the dogs were too sick to be saved and had to be humanely euthanized due to neglect," D.A. Katz said. "We must do better for the animals of this borough. I thank our partners at the ASPCA, Animal Care Centers of NYC and the NYPD for assisting in this investigation and helping to relocate the dogs to appropriate facilities."
Yadgarov is set to return to court on Aug. 5. If convicted, he faces a potential maximum sentence of up to a year in jail.