Old Westbury Farm Owner Charged With Neglecting 25 Animals

An Old Westbury farm owner was arrested and charged with neglecting and failing to provide proper sustenance and medical care to 25 animals under his supervision, Acting Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas announced Tuesday.

DA Investigators made several visits to the farm of Michael Dombek, 54, to monitor the site’s conditions after several complaints from the public. During a surprise visit on Tuesday, an expert equine vet and investigators found that seven horses, three donkeys, eight goats, one sheep, two geese, two rabbits and two dogs were in various states of poor health and hygiene and living in unsafe conditions, according to the report.

Animals had protruding ribs from malnutrition, infected hooves from unsanitary living conditions and the farm water was covered in slime, Singas said.

The DA described the property as being manure-filled with garbage scattered everywhere:

“In one manure-filled paddock on the property, a grey and white male donkey was found with open wounds on his legs. In another paddock on the property, part of the fence was found missing, and various ropes and garbage strewn about. In one section of the property, part of a wooden fence appeared to have been chewed off by an animal that had not received enough food to eat.”

The animals were impounded and placed under the close supervision of law enforcement.

“Thankfully, with the help of the Nassau County SPCA, veterinarians, and our Animal Crimes Unit, they will get the care they need, and this defendant will be held accountable for this outrageous neglect,” Singas said in a statement.

Dombek was charged with 25 counts of failure to provide proper sustenance. He was released on his own recognizance and is due back in court Friday, Sept. 4. He faces a maximum sentence of one year in jail if he is convicted of the top charge.

“Today is a day long in coming,” said Bob Sowers, a spokesman for the Nassau County SPCA. “I applaud the efforts of the District Attorney’s office and am extremely pleased that we will closely monitor the care of the remaining animals.”

Images via NCDA