3 Yorkshire Terriers Rescued From 'Filthy' Suffolk Home: SPCA

HAUPPAUGE, NY — A brother and sister from Hauppauge were arrested following an animal cruelty investigation by Suffolk Fourth Precinct police officers and Suffolk County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals detectives, officials announced Tuesday.

SPCA detectives were called on Saturday to help Suffolk police check a home at 14 Del Place, Hauppauge, said Roy Gross, chief of the Suffolk SPCA. They found three tan Yorkshire terriers who were residing among "feces, urine, garbage, and otherwise filthy living conditions," the SPCA said. The house was previously declared unfit for habitation and placarded, Gross said. Evidence was gathered by SPCA and Suffolk police officers, which led to the arrests of Lonnie Roth and Jamie Roth, who lived in the home, Gross said.

Lonnie Roth, 47, and Jamie Roth, 39, were charged with failure to provide proper sustenance under the New York state Agriculture & Markets Law — a misdemeanor that carries up to a year in prison and/or a $1,000 fine, according to Gross. They were issued field appearance tickets and are scheduled to return to First District Court in Central Islip on July 24.

The dogs were brought to the Smithtown Animal Shelter, though Gross said he doesn't know their current condition.

"This is just another example of the Suffolk County SPCA and the Suffolk County Police Department working closely together with one common goal in mind and that is preventing Animal Cruelty," Gross stated.