Metro
July 8, 2023 | 12:01pm
Cats were emaciated or foul-smelling while others had “apparent problems” such as “facial fluid discharge,” according to a criminal problem.
Courtesy of Councilwoman Joann Ariola’s workplace
The head of Queens animal rescue Cats of Meow York, which has more than 12,000 Instagram fans, has actually been detained for supposed animal abuse — and the group’s own worried volunteers ratted her out, sources informed The Post.
Authorities, equipped with a search warrant, discovered 44 furballs in the basement of Farhana Haq’s Woodhaven home last month, residing in confined, unclean conditions.
Some of the animals were emaciated or foul-smelling while others had “obvious abnormalities” such as “facial fluid discharge,” according to a criminal problem.
The animals had no water; numerous had illness or breathing infections.
Some required instant medical attention, according to court files.
“It’s definitely something that shook the rescue community,” said Natalia Kozikowska-Trapani of the New York City Animal Rescue Girls.
A tipster informed Councilwoman Joann Ariola (R-Ozone Park) to the supposed abuse, and within days, the NYPD, Queen’s District Attorney’s workplace and the ASPCA were included.
“This is something that should never take place – these are innocent, defenseless animals, and it was tragic to see images of them being kept in the shape they were in,” Ariola informed The Post.
Haq was arraigned on animal abuse charges July 3, according to the Queens District Attorney’s workplace and launched on her own recognizance, court records reveal.
The charges are not bail eligible; she confronts one year in prison. The not-for-profit — which had about 10 routine volunteers — took in less than $50,000 in 2015, public records reveal.
“A lot of people were concerned about the way she was running her operation,” said Kozikowska-Trapani. “She was adopting out sick and unvetted kittens, she was ghosting [foster families]. There were a lot of problems.”
Haq decreased remark. Her lawyer, Christopher Toppo, declared his customer is “being victimized by vindictive and accusatory social media trolls whose ranks include disgruntled former employees.”
The animals “were immediately transported to the ASPCA” for “much-needed medical care,” the firm said.
Load more…
{{#isDisplay}} {{/isDisplay}}{{#isAniviewVideo}}
{{/isAniviewVideo}}{{#isSRVideo}}
{{/isSRVideo}}
