The "Status Quo Solution" is a failure in animal hoarding situations

Something is definitely wrong with this picture - (read what Ed Boks and Nathan Winograd say below)

Like many of us who care about animals, I was shocked, horrified, and saddened to learn of the recent situation in Brooklyn, NY, where 115 dogs were found in terrible conditions in what the media called a “filthy, junk-packed interior, squalid home.” First reported as 80 dogs (which is bad enough), the number soon rose to 115 dogs, with five dead, and one found giving birth. Most of the dogs were in terrible condition.

The NYDaily News reported that despite neighbors’ complaints to 311, the owner of the dogs refused to let people into her home. This was not just about knowing that something terrible was going on in that house with dogs suffering — it was about the two women who lived there, elderly, with no electricity. Still, the NYPD maintained they could do nothing.

ABC7NY reported that the police had gone to the house several times, as recently as three weeks ago, using a ladder to look in the windows when no one answered the door.

"They took photos, they said I see dead dogs by the staircase. I see maybe 40 dogs, 50 dogs, I see puppies everywhere," Greenberg said.

But there was nothing they could do. So they said.

"The cops used to come, they used to knock on the door, and they were not let in," said neighbor Alex Zinger. "They said they had no probable cause. And they were not able to kick the door in or anything like that."

The NYPD finally came to the house on Thursday, June 26th, after the woman’s sister called 911 to report her death. Too late for her and some of the dogs.

The NY Post also reported on this tragedy.

ISSUES:

- An obvious hoarding situation with suffering animals

- NYPD states they need a warrant to get into the house, even though they were aware of dead dogs.

- Two elderly sisters who lived in the house had no electricity, as evidenced by their noticeable use of flashlights, witnessed by neighbors. Why was there no wellness check?

- While we are all grateful that animal rescue groups, including the ACC, stepped up to save the animals, this has used a lot of resources and shelter space at the ACC. Most, if not all, of these dogs need medical care and require spaying and neutering, grooming, etc.

I believe that the NYPD could and should have done something before the 911 call. They prefer not to rock the boat. But I am not a lawyer. So I reached out to Nathan Winograd, Executive Director of The No Kill Advocacy Center, who is a lawyer. This is what he said:

“The NYPD could have entered the house under one of two legal exceptions to the Fourth Amendment. They chose not to.

Police can enter a home without a warrant if they reasonably believe immediate action is needed to prevent serious injury or death, including to an animal. In animal cruelty contexts, courts have recognized that the same principle applies if a live animal appears to be suffering and there’s no time to get a warrant. For example, in People v. Chung, officers lawfully entered when they heard a dog whimpering and believed it was in severe distress.

Absent imminent harm, police can enter a property with a warrant showing just and reasonable cause. The testimony of neighbors about the conditions of the dogs, the lack of electricity, especially during a heatwave, and their own observations should have been enough.

Given the right to privacy in a home under the Fourth Amendment, you are not going to get more. And frankly, it should have been enough.”

Ed Boks, the former Executive Director of the New York City, City of Los Angeles, and Maricopa County Animal Care & Control Departments, and a former Board Director of the National Animal Control Association wrote a masterful article, dated July 5th - How Animal Hoarding Cases Spiral Into Tragedy—and What Cities Must Do Now

This is a must-read for anyone interested in this issue.

A portion of his article is copied below:

What Needs to Change in NYC and Beyond

1. Train Law Enforcement

Law enforcement and animal control officers must be trained on their legal authority to intervene in cases of animal suffering, and protocols must be established to ensure timely action.

2. Build and Sustain Cross-Agency Accountability

Animal control, public health, mental health, and law enforcement must work together as equal partners. Cities should establish formal, lasting collaborations—codified in policy and reinforced through regular joint training, shared data systems, and cross-agency protocols. This ensures progress continues beyond any one administration and becomes part of how the system works.

3. Fund Mental Health Response

Cities must embed clinicians within public health or animal services—specialists equipped to respond with compassion and authority.

4. Honor Community Reports

Encourage neighbors and community members to report concerns, and ensure their complaints are taken seriously and acted upon.

5. Clarify and Reform Policy

Laws must be clarified to eliminate hesitancy. Agencies must be empowered—and obligated—to intervene when harm is evident.

6. Enforce Breeder Oversight

Require breeder licensing and regular inspections. Empower local agencies to intervene early when breeding operations show signs of hoarding, neglect, or loss of control.

From Tragedy to Prevention

The heartbreaking case in Brooklyn didn’t happen overnight. It happened over years—with warnings ignored, laws misunderstood, and lives lost. We don’t need more post-mortems. We need to act before the next case erupts.

Cities like New York already have the tools. What they lack is urgency, coordination, and the political will to lead with prevention instead of cleanup.

If you are a policymaker, advocate, or concerned citizen, demand these reforms. If you are in a position of authority, ensure your agency is trained and empowered to act. And if you are a neighbor or community member, keep speaking up—your voice can make the difference between years of suffering and a humane, timely intervention.

Together, we can build a system that protects both animals and people and puts compassion and prevention at the heart of our response.

PLEASE SHARE THIS WITH YOUR POLICYMAKERS, LOCAL AND STATEWIDE.

I have seen many hoarding situations involving both dogs and cats, albeit on a smaller scale, end up being dumped at the NYC ACC. Many often start with someone picking up a homeless cat from the street who is not neutered, then another, and another. They have litters, and before you know it, there are 15 to 20 cats. It becomes too much. People die or go into a nursing home. Relatives don’t want the animals, and they are either dumped on the street or the police are called. It’s not pretty.

The social fabric of our society and our city is broken and has been for a long time. No low-cost or free spay/neuter or humane public education is available. Many people do not know that this is something they should do. Reminder - NYC is not just the wealthiest city in the US — it is the wealthiest city in the world, with the haves and have-nots.