13 dogs, 2 cats rescued from NY horror house

[January 17, 2011]  ROCKVILLE CENTRE, N.Y. (AP) -- A Long Island mother and daughter have been charged with animal cruelty after officials rescued 13 starving and filthy dogs and two cats from their home, which was littered with the carcasses of over two dozen dead animals.

The women -- 54-year-old Faith Ross and 24-year-old Francesca Maselli -- pleaded not guilty to animal cruelty at their arraignment Saturday and are being held at the Nassau County Jail.

Police officers were called to the Rockville Centre home Friday by the town building department, which was investigating a foul odor coming from the home.

It's the second animal abuse case in Rockville Centre in less than a week. On Thursday, a 62-year-old woman was hospitalized after she barricaded in her home with 22 pets -- five of them dead.

Police say the woman was ill and would likely not face charges.

[Associated Press]

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