Overview

• Two teenagers discovered 30 cats abandoned in cages near the Southern State Parkway in South Farmingdale on Tuesday, prompting a multi-agency rescue effort.
• The cats were found in severely neglected conditions, with cages filled with feces and no access to food or water, according to rescuers.
• Thomas McDermott, a homeless man, has claimed ownership of the cats, stating he moved them out of his home to protect them from alleged abuse by his brother.
• Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly has launched a criminal investigation into potential animal cruelty and abandonment charges, with the cats held as evidence.
• The rescued cats are being treated at the Oyster Bay Animal Shelter and will be made available for adoption once the legal process concludes.