The recent case in Rocky Point, where nearly 1,000 rats were discovered in a private home, has shocked Long Island. The woman responsible has been charged with animal cruelty, neglect, and endangering the welfare of a child. Many of the rats are suffering from injuries, illness, and starvation. A child was also living in these unsafe and unsanitary conditions.

This is not the first animal hoarding case in Suffolk County, but it is one of the most extreme. Once again, a small nonprofit with no shelter facility is being asked to manage a crisis without adequate support.

Strong Island Animal Rescue is leading the response, working with local veterinarians to remove, treat, rehome, and when necessary, humanely euthanize sick animals. But they are overwhelmed and urgently need help.

We cannot continue to handle hoarding cases this way, one rescue at a time, without structure or support.

We are calling on the Suffolk County Legislature, County Executive Ed Romaine, and the New York State Office of Children and Family Services to create a coordinated, county-level Animal Hoarding Response Task Force that includes:

• Animal rescue and veterinary professionals
• Child protective services
• Mental health and housing specialists
• Local law enforcement and code enforcement officials
• Emergency management and shelter representatives

This task force would allow Suffolk County to respond to animal hoarding cases with compassion, speed, and safety for animals, children, and communities. It would also allow earlier intervention before these cases spiral into crisis.

A child lived in this home. So did hundreds of suffering animals. The warning signs were there. We need a better response system now.

Sign this petition to demand a coordinated, humane hoarding response task force in Suffolk County. Rescues cannot do it alone.