Dozens of domesticated rats rescued from Rocky Point home, questions swirl about how many still remain inside
Strong Island Animal Rescue said community donations have helped cover the costs of medical bills and supplies for the rescued rodents.
Strong Island Animal Rescue says more than 30 of the rats discovered inside a Rocky Point home over the weekend have been safely removed.
The animal welfare group posted an update on its social media saying the domesticated rodents are being rehabilitated with a foster. The non-profit organization added that community donations helped cover the cost of medical bills as well as supplies like food, bedding, blankets and snacks for the animals.
But questions remain today about how many are still inside the now condemned home in Suffolk County.
Strong Island Animal Rescue said, "There is rumored to be hundreds still inside," but an exact figure was still unclear.
Today, a spokesperson for the town of Brookhaven told News 12, "Brookhaven Town has ordered the house condemned and requested volunteer rescue groups to remove the remaining rat population. The Town does not have the responsibility or facilities to deal with the rat population and control at a private house.”
In response, Frankie Floridia with Strong Island Animal Rescue said they're prepared to do more trapping, but they have been unable to get in contact with the homeowner, Lori Curley, and can't get inside the home without her permission.
"Once we have permission from the homeowner to go in, we can go ahead and get any more friendlies or any more rats that can be put into homes," Floridia said.
Floridia said he will need the help of other experienced rat rescues to take the rats in because Strong Island Animal Rescue is at capacity for the rodents.
According to prosecutors, Curley's home at 18 Whitewood Dr. was overrun with 200 living and deceased rats and the house had a strong stench of urine, feces and decay.
Nearly three weeks earlier, Suffolk County police visited the home on Dec. 18, when, according to court documents, Curley's grandson, 3, was captured on police body camera footage in just a diaper, walking throughout the house surrounded by floors covered in rat urine and droppings.
Officials have not yet said what prompted the initial visit, why the child was left in the home in those conditions, or why police returned on Jan. 3.
Court documents show Curley was arrested on Saturday. She pleaded not guilty to one count of animal abuse and two counts of neglect, as well as one count of endangering the welfare of a child stemming from that Dec. 18 visit.
Yesterday, the Suffolk County Health Department said inspectors were at the home and found violations of the county's general sanitation laws, specifically around the section for insect and rodent control. A department spokesperson said inspectors issued Curley a notice of violation requiring cleanup of the site.
Curley is scheduled to be back in court on Jan. 23.
