Several of the starving dogs and cats found by police raiding a squalid Queens home earlier this week are believed to be stolen — and cops are hoping to reunite the pinched pets with their owners.
The NYPD has released additional pictures showing more of the 13 animals found abused and malnourished when cops executed a search warrant at the Beach 44th St. home near Norton Drive in the Rockaways at around 6 a.m. Monday.
One of the dogs, a German shepherd, was stolen from an East New York, Brooklyn, tire shop during a Jan. 25 burglary.
A man who works near the lot, which was closed Wednesday, recalled the owner’s “beautiful” dog and the burglary.
“It was night time — 3, 4 o’clock in the morning,” said the man, who asked to be identified only as Aarow. “The dog was inside the gates.”
The man said that the burglars took about $1,500 in cash from an ATM in a shed on the car lot along with the German shepherd.
Days later, the owner of the car lot had a heart attack.
“He was in the hospital a couple days, [but] he’s OK now,” Aarow said of the man. “Maybe it was the stress.”
The owner’s dog was returned after the horrifying bust, but when the dog’s owner was reunited with his emaciated pooch, he was furious.
“That’s sick to take somebody’s dog and then to treat him the way [they treated] him,” said the man. “Not even to take him home. You know what I mean? If you took him home because you like, him different story. That’s exactly why we’re puzzled.”
Members of the NYPD’s grand larceny squad searching the home for stolen goods and drugs found the 11 starving, emaciated dogs and two malnourished cats. They also uncovered quantities of heroin and fentanyl along with stolen tools and DJ equipment.
The animals were found in “deplorable conditions” and given to the ASPCA for treatment.
When detectives entered the home, they didn’t realize they would be standing in a kennel.
The dogs, a few of them pit bulls, were found in cages, their ribs showing through their skin, cops said.
“Many of the animals were underweight, dehydrated and had dirty hair coats,” an ASPCA spokesman said. “Veterinary and behavior experts are conducting forensic exams and providing them with much-needed medical care and behavioral treatment and enrichment.”
The NYPD’s animal cruelty squad is investigating.
Homeowner Cory Elder, 43, was arrested on a slew of charges including drug possession, possession of stolen property and animal neglect and torture. His arraignment was expected to take place in Queens Criminal Court Wednesday, but Elder was hospitalized after complaining of pains. He also refused to be fingerprinted, police sources said.
Cops believe Elder was working with two other men who remain at large.
Anyone with information regarding the animals is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.
