Police: Dead Dog, Lizards, Cat Found Abandoned At LI Home

SOUTH HUNTINGTON, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- A Long Island woman was arrested after allegedly abandoning animals at her home in South Huntington.

Suffolk County police were called to 214 Beverly Road on Thursday after the landlord of the residential home reported noise coming from a barking dog, officials said.

Upon arrival, police said they found two Miniature Australian Shepherd dogs, two lizards and a cat that appeared to be abandoned at the residence.

One of the dogs was apparently dead, police said. 

Melissa Buchanan, 27, was arrested and charged with six counts of animal cruelty when she arrived back at her home while police were on scene. According to police, Buchanan admitted she had not been home for several days, WCBS 880's Mike Xirinachs reported.

"When we entered the home we could see that there were animals in severe distress. One small breed dog that had been deceased for quite some time," Huntington Animal Control Officer, Michael Costa said.

As CBS2's Jennifer McLogan reported, the landlord said he became suspicious when a dog named Myley kept barking, and there were no signs of his tenant.

"There is a window there. I looked through the curtains and I see one of the dogs is dead. The thing is she left the radiant heat on, the floor heat, she had them in a cage," he said.

Buchanan admitted her pets had been without food or water for more than two days. She was unable to make it home to care for them.

"A necropsy will be performed on the dead dog to determine the actual cause of death which we suspect is starvation, but they will all be evaluated. The reptiles will be removed from here and transported to a reptile sanctuary," Suffolk SPCA Chief Roy Gross said.

Buchanan told a judge that she made a terrible mistake. She is being held on $4,000 bail, as this was not her first mistake.

Buchanan faces a $1,000 fine and up to a year in jail for each animal cruelty charge.

The remaining animals were taken into custody by the Suffolk County SCPA, police said.

Buchanan is scheduled to appear in court in Central Islip on Friday.