Manorville animal sanctuary hit with 112 neglect charges

Manorville’s Double D Bar Ranch is hoof-deep in trouble, according to authorities. But the animal sanctuary is biting back — hard.

The “self-proclaimed animal sanctuary” has been arraigned on 112 charges of animal neglect, Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney announced today. The charges stem from allegations that the ranch failed to provide adequate food, water, shelter and veterinary care to a broad range of animals, including cows, goats, horses, pigs, sheep, a mule and an alpaca, Tierney said.

“No matter what name it operates under, a ‘sanctuary’ is not a sanctuary when it becomes a place of suffering,” the district attorney said in a press release. “Our commitment to protecting animals is unwavering. When those who claim to provide care instead allow neglect and cruelty, we will take necessary action.”

Investigators with the Suffolk County Police Department’s Biological, Environmental, and Animal Safety Team (BEAST) began making near-daily visits to the ranch in early January after receiving numerous complaints about animal welfare.

Frigid winter temperatures heightened concerns, with investigators allegedly finding animals without proper shelter or access to water. Some animals were found dead or suffering from tumors; infections; emaciation; dental disease; matting; untreated wounds; lameness; respiratory infections; arthritis; swollen body parts; and overgrown hooves, claws and nails.

An attorney for the sanctuary labeled the allegations and the district attorney’s news release preposterous, “arrogant and irresponsible.”

“This despicable press release by the DA’s office is indicative of the government overreach by prosecutors and law enforcement drunk with power. It is shockingly arrogant and irresponsible,” Nora Constance Marino told Greater Long Island. “It contains numerous statements that are not accurate and are purposely misleading.  The DA’s office is on an obvious witch hunt with the intent to poison the jury pool, humiliate our client, and dissuade Double D’s donors.”

Marino went on to say that authorities are looking to put Double D Bar Ranch out of business.

“How they can write what they did, based on mere allegations at this point, which we flatly dispute and that have not been proven, is beyond disturbing, it is downright scary, for all citizens of Suffolk County, and the DA’s behavior raises serious ethical and constitutional concerns which will be explored,” Marino said. “Double D has operated its sanctuary for 28 years, without incident, and has been a trusted resource by many in the community, to save and nurture unwanted and discarded animals.

“What the DA’s office is trying to do is truly outrageous, and will ultimately hurt, not help, unwanted animals,” she added.

Tierney said that BEAST detectives, alongside public and private partners, have spent weeks tending to the animals. They have removed dozens of animals from the Double D grounds, he added. On Tuesday, authorities issued an appearance ticket, and two days later, the ranch was arraigned in front of District Court Judge Susan Berland.

The court barred the ranch from taking in additional animals and granted law enforcement continued oversight of those that remain, Tierney’s office said. The case is set to continue in court on Feb. 24.

John Di Leonardo, president and executive director of Humane Long Island, told Greater Long Island that his animal rescue group in recent days has rescued dozens and dozens of animals — mostly ducks, geese and other birds — from Double D Bar Ranch.

“Sanctuaries are expected to care for animals rescued from dire situations, providing them adequate food, water, shelter and medical care,” he said, “but at Double D Bar Ranch, animals lived amongst piles of feces and corpses of their friends, suffering from untreated frostbite, overgrown hooves, broken bones, and parasites.”

Di Leonardo said further that Double D Bar Ranch has allegedly been neglecting animals for more than a decade. He cited an undercover video produced by PETA in 2008 that allegedly found deplorable conditions, illness and death at the ranch.

2008 undercover video at Double D

Di Leonardo noted the birds Humane Long Island rescued were underweight and suffering with prominent keel bones.

“Often when we visited, [the ranch’s] waters were frozen and it was evident they hadn’t been fed,” he said. “Two of the turkeys struggled to walk and many of the roosters were suffering from frostbite on the heads and parasites burrowing into their legs. A sheep was found struggling with her head caught in a hay dispenser and was observed limping with overgrown hooves.”