B.E.A.S.T. PARTNERS WITH THE TOWN OF BROOKHAVEN, ASPCA TO RESCUE NEARLY 300 NEGLECTED ANIMALS KEPT IN DEPLORABLE LIVING CONDITIONS

(SUFFOLK COUNTY, N.Y.) – Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney’s Biological, Environmental and Animal Safety Team (BEAST) with assistance from the Town of Brookhaven and the ASPCA and other rescue organizations today saved nearly 300 animals that were being hoarded inside a Miller Place home that was infested with vermin.

“Thanks to our partnership with the Town of Brookhaven, we were alerted to the deplorable conditions these helpless animals were living in and we immediately took action,” said District Attorney Tierney. “Through our partnerships with local government and rescue groups, we can work cohesively to ensure that these types of inhumane abuse of animals are addressed and those who participate in them are held accountable.”

“The mistreatment and neglect of animals is a serious crime and a severe threat to the health and safety of those animals as well as the inhabitants of the house,” Brookhaven Town Supervisor Ed Romaine said. “I thank the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office, ASPCA and all the law enforcement personnel who made it their priority to rescue the animals from such horrific conditions. Animal cruelty will not be tolerated in the Town of Brookhaven and anyone involved will be prosecuted with the full extent of the law.”

“The level of cruelty and the abhorrent conditions that the animals were subjected to is beyond comprehension. The awful neglect that they were forced to endure cannot be excused or explained in any way,” said Brookhaven Town Councilwoman Jane Bonner. “I expect that the Suffolk County District Attorney will treat this as a serious violation of the law and mete out a punishment that befits the crime. I thank the ASPCA officers for their diligence in this case and for their compassion and care for the rescued animals.”

“When ASPCA responders arrived on the property, it was clear that immediate intervention was necessary to remove hundreds of neglected animals from the inhumane and brutal conditions they were subjected to and provide them with expert care,” said Matt Bershadker, ASPCA president and CEO. “The Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office has developed a task force dedicated to helping animals in need, and we commend them for prioritizing efforts to stop animal neglect and cruelty in their communities. The ASPCA is proud to support their work by bringing these animals to safety and assisting the prosecutorial case through evidence collection, forensic exams, and legal and investigative support.”

Karin M. Keyes, 51, the owner of the home is charged with multiple counts of Cruel Confinement of Animals under the Agriculture and Markets Law.

“Operation Open Cage” began on October 1, 2022 after BEAST investigators were contacted by Town of Brookhaven Animal Control Officers who reported a hoarding situation at the home. Officers reported they found 118 rabbits, 150 birds, 15 cats, 7 tortoises, 3 snakes and several mice at the home when they initially responded to complaints of alleged town code violations.

The animals were living among filth – many surrounded by their own feces and urine and covered in vermin. It is estimated that there were tens and thousands of cockroaches crawling through the home. The conditions were so deplorable that a Town of Brookhaven building inspector condemned the property as uninhabitable. Some of the animals were also suffering from untreated medical conditions and with assistance from the ASPCA are being removed from the home.

The ASPCA is also assisting with operational planning and removal, evidence collection and crime scene documentation, legal and investigative assistance, and forensic exams. The animals are being transported to animal welfare organizations throughout New York where they will receive much-needed care.

This case is being prosecuted by BEAST Supervising Attorney Jed Painter.

DA Tierney’s BEAST (Biological, Environmental and Animal Safety Team) was established in 2022 upon his taking office to investigate and prosecute crimes impacting upon the ecosystem and animals of Suffolk County. BEAST consists of dedicated environmental investigators, anti-cruelty detectives and especially trained prosecutors that collectively work to bring holistic solutions to traumatized animals and polluted environments. Suffolk County contains precious natural resources and rich biodiversity that must be protected through concerted efforts by law enforcement.

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