Detectives from the Suffolk County SPCA have charged a Kings Park woman with alleged animal cruelty, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia after the execution of a search warrant on her residence on Feb. 8.
Roy Gross, Chief of the Suffolk SPCA, said that its detectives charged Cazandra Nucci, 42, with multiple misdemeanor animal cruelty charges, alleging that Nucci neglected eleven sugar gliders and nine cats in her care by failing to provide a safe and clean environment. Additionally there were 9 dead sugar gliders and 1 dead snake.
The operation was executed with assistance from the Suffolk County Police Department’s Emergency Services Unit, Homicide Section, 4th Precinct Patrol, Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office BEAST Unit, Town of Smithtown’s Fire Marshal’s Office, Code Enforcement and Animal Shelter.
Upon executing a search warrant in the afternoon of February 8, 2025, detectives found the home the animals were confined inside had noxious air and odor of feces, urine, and rot were so pungent it made personnel cough and gag upon entry and stung their eyes. The animals found indoors were in an overcrowded area of hoarded garbage over six feet high in some spaces. Dozens of apparent drug paraphernalia were strewn about the residence, crack cocaine and MDMA were recovered along with nine deceased sugar gliders. The conditions inside were so extreme that personnel had to crawl over the piles of debris inside. The residence has been placarded as unfit for human occupancy by the Town of Smithtown Code Enforcement.
Nucci was booked at the Suffolk County Police Department 4th Precinct and released. She is scheduled to appear at First District Court in Central Islip, on February 28. The animals will soon be available for adoption at the Smithtown Animal Shelter.
The Suffolk County SPCA remains committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all animals in the county. Animal cruelty will not be tolerated. If you witness any incident of animal cruelty or neglect in Suffolk County please contact the Suffolk County SPCA at (631) 382-7722.