134 'Inbred' Cats, 2 Dogs Removed From 'Uninhabitable' Glen Cove Home: 'We'll Get Them All'

GLEN COVE, NY — A Glen Cove woman was arrested on charges related to having more than 100 cats and 2 dogs inside her "uninhabitable" home, the Glen Cove Police Department said.

Alena Horbatko, 54, pleaded not guilty at her arraignment on Tuesday in Glen Cove City Court to 67 counts of torture, injury, not feeding an animal, two counts of second-degree reckless endangerment, and one count of acting in a manner injurious to a child under 17, according to Nassau County Felony Court.

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Horbatko's 18-year-old daughter called the police to flag the situation because she was concerned about her 12-year-old sister, police said.

Glen Cove police and Nassau County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said they have both been to the home multiple times in the past, dating back to 2022, and have called Child Protective Services. Detective Brian Wasserman with NCSPCA said his office has been to the Glen Cove home in the past and seen the poor living conditions.

"My detective was outraged," Wasserman said. "We have been here. We've been calling for this for a while. I don't know how someone can walk in there and say, 'These children are okay.' It's all documented. Sometimes it takes too long."

Wasserman said it is a possibility that Horbatko has been breeding the cats and that the rescued cats are inbred.

Officers and NCSPCA units responded this week, wearing hazmat suits, and Glen Cove police said it was an "awful" scene — the "smell of ammonia, urine was overwhelming, uninhabitable."

Horbatko's assigned counsel, Ioannis Ladis, was not immediately available for comment when Patch reached out.

Police started an investigation, resulting in securing a search warrant, collecting 134 cats and 2 dogs as of June 10, police and NCPSCA said. Approximately 20 volunteers from the NCSPCA have been working for the past three days to rescue all the animals. Wasserman said that since the fleas no longer have a host to latch onto, they have become more prevalent in the house.

"Unfortunately, some of these cats were on the sick side with fleas, respiratory issues, eye issues," police said. "Vets are tending to the cat's needs, and hopefully, they will be adopted soon."

One kitten was found deceased, and although a veterinarian said the newborn may have died due to a congenital birth defect, Wasserman said. The deceased newborn was found under a cupboard, Wasserman said.

The other two in the litter seem to be doing well, despite the veterinarian thinking one might not make it.

"That's always the one miracle," Wasserman said. "They're so resilient."

"We have to continue to trap and come back until there is nothing to trap," Wasserman said. "We'll get them all."

Afterwards, they will run thermal cameras to make sure there are no other living or breathing animals left. If there are any deceased animals, they will be kept as evidence in a refrigerator and sent to Cornell for a necropsy.

According to felony court records, Judge Joseph Capobianco issued an order of protection to refrain Horbatko from being with her children dated June 9 for one year.

Judge Capobianco also issued a court-ordered animal forfeiture to prohibit Horbatko from taking in more animals, according to officials. Records show that Horbatko signed a full surrender of animals at her property.

There are still more cats in the house, and both police and NCSPCA will be on scene on Thursday morning to take the remainder of them.

Glen Cove Animal Shelter already has 40 cats, and other facilities in New Hyde Park, Hudson Valley, and Westbury are stepping up to take in some of the animals, police said.

Nassau County SCPCA is 100 percent funded by donations from the community, and they do not receive money from the county or ASPCA. Wasserman said the organization relies on the charitable nature of neighbors.