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A Kings Park woman faces multiple animal cruelty and drug charges after authorities discovered dead, malnourished, and neglected sugar gliders inside her garbage-filled home, officials said.
Cazandra Nucci, 42, was charged with multiple misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty, as well as possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia, following a raid of her residence by Suffolk County SPCA detectives on Saturday.
Investigators found eleven sugar gliders and nine cats living in squalid, hazardous conditions, along with nine dead sugar gliders and one dead snake. The rescued animals will soon be available for adoption through the Smithtown Animal Shelter.
Authorities said the home was overwhelmed with the stench of feces, urine and rotting matter, forcing personnel to cough and gag upon entry. The animals were confined in an overcrowded area amid garbage piled over six feet high.
Crack cocaine, MDMA and drug paraphernalia were also allegedly found throughout the home. The Town of Smithtown Code Enforcement deemed the residence unfit for human occupancy, the SPCA said.
“The conditions inside were so extreme that personnel had to crawl over the piles of debris inside,” Suffolk SPCA Chief Roy Gross said.
Sugar gliders, small nocturnal marsupials native to Australia and Indonesia, are legal to own in New York state, but, according to Exotic Nutrition website, require a specialized care that includes a balanced diet of fruits, protein and nectar substitutes. Improper care can lead to severe health issues, including malnutrition and metabolic disorders.
Nucci was arrested at the scene, processed at the Suffolk County Police Department’s Fourth Precinct and released. She is scheduled to appear in Suffolk County First District Court in Central Islip on Feb. 28.
Officials urge residents to report animal cruelty or neglect to the Suffolk County SPCA at 631.382.7722.
