NEED TO KNOW
- 48 Belgian Malinois dogs were allegedly found crammed into a one-bedroom Queens apartment, according to the borough’s district attorney
- Rescuers say the animals were crammed into closets, cages and cabinets with feces covering the floors
- The former tenant, whose alleged animal hoarding was discovered upon his eviction, now faces 96 counts of animal cruelty and up to a year behind bars
The floor was allegedly slick with feces, the air so thick with ammonia rescuers struggled to breathe. And tucked into closets, cabinets and every corner of a Forest Hills apartment were 48 Belgian Malinois dogs — malnourished, matted and barely surviving.
Now, their alleged keeper is facing nearly 100 counts of animal cruelty.
Isaac Yadgarov, 37, turned himself in on May 13 and was arraigned on 96 misdemeanor charges for animal neglect and failure to provide proper sustenance, according to a statement from Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz.
Officials say the horror was uncovered on May 8, when the NYPD, ASPCA and NYC’s Animal Care Centers responded to a seventh-floor apartment after Yadgarov was evicted.
Inside, responders allegedly found a hoarding scene “beyond comprehension,” with dogs crammed into closets, cages and even kitchen drawers.
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Three of the dogs were so ill they had to be euthanized, per the statement.
The remainder are in the care of local shelters receiving medical treatment and food.
“The defendant is accused of keeping dozens of dogs in unsanitary and deplorable conditions, unable to move freely and surrounded by filth,” Katz said. “Animals are voiceless and vulnerable and deserve to be treated with basic care and decency.”
Yadgarov allegedly told investigators he was planning to surrender the dogs voluntarily, but after his eviction, he disappeared.
If convicted, he faces up to a year behind bars.
For now, rescuers say the dogs are beginning their long road to recovery.
“They’ve suffered so much,” one official said, per an ASPCA statement. “But at least they’re safe now.”
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