Long Island Man Opens Animal Rescue Inside Massapequa Mall

MASSAPEQUA, NY (CBSNewYork) -- One Long Islander fed up with puppy mills decided to start an animal rescue of his own.

LISTEN: WCBS 880's Sophia Hall reports

Dave Bernacchi says he was sick of pets being sold from puppy mills for hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars at stores and inside malls.

So he decided to try something new. He opened up a pet rescue at the Westfield Sunrise Mall in Massapequa, where folks can adopt loving dogs and cats for small donations.

He says some of the pets looking for loving homes have had a difficult past.

"We have two cats that have motor troubles," said Bernacchi. "They were just left in a box, but they are perfectly healthy self-sufficient."

H says another rescued cat had to have her eye removed because of a massive infection, but otherwise is now healthy and is looking for a loving home.