200-Pound Turtle, Hundreds Of Birds, Other Animals Found In Bellmore Home

BELLMORE, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- The Nassau County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is ready to make a move to rescue hundreds of animals from a Long Island home.

A 200-pound snapping turtle, 300 caged birds and hundreds of other animals are living in a home in Bellmore in what authorities call deplorable conditions, WCBS 880's Mike Xirinachs reported.

On Wednesday  night, wildlife officials removed a 4-foot alligator that had been living in a hot tub at the home.

"The alligator had a cut on it's side caused by the fact that the alligator never got out of the water," SPCA Chief Bob Sowers told 1010 WINS. "The alligator spent 24 hours a day in the water. They have to get out of the water for a while, get on land, get on a rock, get on dry land for a while."

The SPCA has given the homeowner 24-hours to clean up the home or face animal cruelty charges.

"We're trying to work with him but now it comes to the point where it's game time," Sowers said. "The health of the animals is at risk, he's had sufficient time and if he's not going to comply well then that's it."

The owner is said to be a conservationist trying to rehabilitate the animals, Xirinachs reported.