The stench of animal waste coming from a Cheektowaga home led to the arrest of a woman with almost a decade-long record of animal hoarding, authorities said Wednesday.
Police discovered 19 cats, a dog and a fish Tuesday evening in the house on Royal Palm Drive. Three children in the house at the time were taken to an aunt’s house, Cheektowaga Police. Lt. Jim Speyer said.
Linda Roehre, 48, was charged with child endangerment and animal cruelty, both misdemeanors.
The house, in a neighborhood east of Dick Road and south of Genesee Street, was condemned, Speyer said. It had holes in a wall, and its floors were warped by urine and littered with cat feces.
The state Office of Child and Family Services was contacted, he added. When police arrived, three of four teenagers in the family were watching television in the house, which was dark, had no heat and little food.
“Our concern is for the kids,” Speyer said. “We want to make sure the kids have a decent place to live.”..." More
