41 Dogs and 11 Cats Rescued in Cattaraugus County Cruelty Case: SPCA Seeks Community Support
41 Dogs and 11 Cats Rescued in Cattaraugus County Cruelty Case: SPCA Seeks Community Support
After being rescued from neglect in Farmersville, 41 dogs and 11 cats are now safe at the SPCA in Cattaraugus County. Staff and volunteers are working tirelessly to provide urgent medical care—and they need the community’s help.
OLEAN - On July 24, 2025, the New York State Police called the SPCA in Cattaraugus County to a home in Farmersville housing 41 dogs and 11 cats in squalid conditions. A Machias-based New York State Trooper obtained a warrant to access the structure and with assistance from the SPCA in Cattaraugus County, dog control officer Trevor Hollenbeck, and staff from the SPCA in Allegany County, the animals were removed and transported to the SPCA in Cattaraugus County. The woman responsible faces charges of torturing or injuring animals, failure to provide sustenance, and 41 counts of neglect of an impounded animal. At an August 12th arraignment, all the animals seized were relinquished to the custody of the SPCA in Cattaraugus County. No longer held as evidence, the ruling allows the SPCA to move forward in finding families for the animals. The defendant pled not guilty in her first court appearance and will appear again in early September.
Upon arrival at the SPCA in Cattaraugus County, staff medically evaluated the animals, provided healthy food, fresh water, and a clean environment. The following day, veterinarian visits began for the dogs who needed the most immediate attention. One dog had to be humanely euthanized due to a long-term, untreated condition. Others displayed severe skin and ear infections, dental disease, missing teeth, heart murmurs, missing jaws, mammary masses, matted hair and hair loss, lesions on foot pads, ulcerations on scrotums, flea infestations, and other conditions.
Most medical issues were derived from poor living conditions. At the Farmersville location, the animals lacked access to running or clean water, a consistent food source, and medical care, and were kept confined in their own waste for an extended time. No person(s) lived in the house with them. The SPCA staff started the dogs on antibiotics for various infections and provided soothing baths to ease the discomfort of skin conditions, caring for the animals for 20 days leading up to the owner’s relinquishment of ownership.
The SPCA in Cattaraugus County can humanely hold and care for about 20 dogs in the current space. When the seized dogs arrived, the facility reached double capacity. Leading up to the first court appearance, several dogs already at the shelter were adopted, freeing up space for the seized animals. SPCA staff and volunteers made it work through caring creativity and long days, nursing the animals back to health and providing love many never received. Amazingly, many of the dogs began to greet staff with wagging tails at the front of their kennel runs on the morning of their first full day at the shelter. The dogs included Dachshunds and doxie mixes, and a bonded pair of Labrador Retrievers - one of whom serves as the eyes for the other, who is blind. The Labs were named Miley and Montana. Many of the dogs are older in age.
The SPCA in Cattaraugus County immediately incurred medical expenses of over $3,000 in the first days. Some dogs require special diets and supplements. All animals received treatment for fleas. All require core vaccinations, deworming, and other routine care. Some require extensive dental work, continuing treatment or veterinary care, and all must be spayed or neutered before adoption. Animals are eligible for the SPCA’s Foster-to-Adopt Program before being spayed or neutered. After likely a lifetime of neglect, the SPCA has put these animals on a path to healing, serving as a community asset in a time of crisis.
The SPCA seeks community support. The most urgent need is monetary contributions to cover medical expenses, especially for dental care and spay and neuter services. The SPCA also needs donations of blankets, plush toys, senior canned food, peanut butter, canned pumpkin, and salmon oil. Volunteers willing to wash dishes, do laundry, and stuff Kong toys are needed. They also seek individuals to foster animals in their homes and to spend time with cats and walk dogs at the shelter.
While cases such as this draw significant attention, the SPCA in Cattaraugus County care for approximately 100 animals every day, rain or shine. They care for animals on Christmas and the Fourth of July… 365 days of the year. In the midst of this, the non-profit’s 40-year-old building no longer meets animal welfare standards and is not viable. Deteriorating, unsafe conditions require a full renovation and addition. The SPCA in Cattaraugus County recently launched the Claws & Paws Capital Campaign to meet and exceed new State mandates. For more information on the campaign visit www.spcacattco.org /claws-paws-capital-campaign/.
Donations may be dropped off at the shelter at 2944 Route 16, Olean, or have your donation delivered using the SPCA’s Amazon wish list at http://bit.ly/3HsCmeo. You can donate toward spay/neuter surgeries, dentals, medications, and other needs by visiting www.spcacattco.org and using the donate button at the top right of the page. Be sure to note in the Special Instructions section what you would like your donation to go toward.
It is said that it takes a village and the SPCA in Cattaraugus County is proud to be a part of a giving and caring community. Join with the SPCA in changing the lives of animals - and the people who love them - today.