50 dogs seized from Long Island home    

[June 21, 2007]  NEW YORK (AP) -- A couple's discovery of their missing dog for sale on a pet adoption online site led police to a Long Island home where more than 50 dogs were living in squalid conditions, authorities said.

The dogs, some sickly and underfed, were removed from the Melford home Wednesday night and taken to a shelter to be examined by veterinarians, authorities said.

"The house was in horrible condition," said Roy Gross, chief of the Suffolk County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. "It was covered in feces and urine. It was hot, very hot in there."

Three people at the house were arrested: Karen Schleich, 45; David Bernacchi, 44; and Kristin Beauchesne, 25.

Schleich and Bernacchi, the home's residents, were charged with animal cruelty, police said. Schleich was also charged with criminal possession of stolen property, while Beauchesne was charged with grand larceny.

It was not known if Schleich and Bernacchi had attorneys. Sgt. Michael Cosgrove of the Suffolk County Police Department said Beauchesne had an attorney, but he could not immediately provide a name.

The three claimed they were animal rescuers and posted advertisements for dogs on various online pet adoption sites, Cosgrove said.

A couple searching for their Shih Tzu found their newly shaven dog advertised for sale for $350 on one site, he said. They reported their discovery to police, whose investigation led to the Medford home, Cosgrove said.

Beauchasne was seen taking the Shih Tzu from the street and later telling an officer who stopped to question her about the missing animal that the dog had escaped from her backyard, police said.

It turned out that Beauchesne worked with Schliech and Bernacchi, and had given the dog to them, Cosgrove said.

The three remained in custody and were scheduled to make their first court appearance Thursday.

[Associated Press]