Long Island Man Accused Of Neglecting Animals Used For Petting Zoos, Street Fairs

OLD WESTBURY, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- A Long Island man is accused of keeping more than a dozen animals used for children's events in a state of filth.

Nassau County SPCA's Bob Sowers said Michael Dombek would advertise on Craigslist that he would bring animals for petting zoo parties as well as street fairs.

But Sowers told WCBS 880's Sophia Hall that the geese, ponies, dogs, rabbits, and goats were undernourished and living in filth on Dombek's Old Westbury property.

"He would spend as little as he had to spend on the food and the proper care for those animals," Sowers said.

A woman at a street fair called authorities after Sowers said she noticed one of the ponies was so weak, he could hardly stand, Hall reported.

Sowers said when investigators went to the property, they also noticed one of the animals had eaten part of the wooden fence it was so hungry.

Dombek is charged with 25 counts of animal neglect.