It took about four hours to capture all 344 birds, which had taken over the house of horrors in Merrick.
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“We found rats in the house and if there were dead pigeons in the house they were eaten by the rats”, Rogers said, adding that numerous live pigeons were found with rat bites.
Authorities believe the 64-year-old homeowner has been living for years in more than two feet of bird droppings across all the floors inside the North Merrick home, an SPCA official said at the scene.
Rogers said that in the last month 850 animals were rescued from “hording situations” in Nassau County homes.
Rogers said it’s important for neighbors to speak up in situations like this. “We’re working in suits and respirators just to get into the house”. He said the refrigerator was not accessible. “I’ve never seen a house that became a pigeon coop”.
News of the pigeon hoarding caught flight when the Nassau County Department of Buildings went to the residence for an unrelated issue and noticed the condition. They believe there were 350 pigeons uncaged and flying around inside the home on Abbot Avenue.
Some of the birds in the home were diagnosed with neurological disorders and will be relocated and placed with caretakers who raise and care for pigeons.
“These birds have been living inside their entire lives”, he said.
Nassau SPCA urges neighbors to be more alert.
These include reptiles, such as alligators, exotic birds and dogs.
Rogers said they did not find any dead birds inside the house, but speculated any corpses were probably consumed by rats. This is your neighbor, your neighborhood, and these are people and animals who need help.
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To that end, the SPCA asks that if you see similar situations of people hoarding animals or if you see animals being kept in unhealthy or risky situations, you should call to report animal cruelty at 911 and request immediate police response or call to report the situation at 516-THE-SPCA.
