Dozens of sick or dead animals found at West Hills home

Firefighters responding to an automatic fire alarm at a large West Hills home yesterday morning, found dozens of sick, malnourished, or deceased animals that included a pony, goats and dozens of dogs, officials said.

Michael and Marilyn Gladstein, the owners of the property at 168 Chichester Rd., returned home Wednesday night and were arrested and charged with animal cruelty, the Suffolk SPCA said. The couple was taken to the Second Precinct for processing, officials said.

Huntington Manor Assistant Chief Gary Hatton said about 20 firefighters with 4 fire trucks responded to the automatic alarm that went off about 11 a.m. "The first person that was there, he forced the front door open. He could hear quite a few dogs barking," Hatton said. But, he said, fire fighters was unable to enter immediately. "He realized it was unsafe to go in, just because of the smell ... It was sweltering and the smell was horrendous."

Moments later, other firefighters arrived with protective gear and breathing apparatus, went through the house, and determined that there was no fire and no people inside, Hatton said.

What the firefighters did find throughout the large two-story house, three-car garage and elsewhere on the extensive property were possibly as many as 100 dogs, three goats, "and in the barn, a pony - skin and bones," said Suffolk SPCA Chief Roy Gross.

Suffolk police and Suffolk SPCA authorities were called to the scene.

Gross said his staff had to wait until late Wednesday night until they received a search warrant to allow them to enter the house, remove the animals, and get them veterinarian evaluation and treatment. "There are dozens of dogs in the house left in deplorable conditions. They had no food or water," Gross said. "They were fighting over the water the fire department had left them."