Three people were arrested Monday in Port Jefferson and charged with neglecting 13 animals.
Port Jefferson Fire Department members and marshals responded to a fire on the roof of a Willis Avenue home on Monday, which led to the discovery of animals living in deplorable conditions, according to the Suffolk County Police Department.
As a result of the investigation, 50-year-old Brian Burden, 44-year-old Nicole Ramunni - who both lived in the home - and 55-year-old Timothy Burden, of Stony Brook, were arrested.
Suffolk police did not specify the types of animals that were discovered, but said fire officials observed "different species of animals without food or water in the residence, and living in deplorable conditions."
After the conditions were reported, the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Biological, Environmental and Animal Safety Team (BEAST) conducted an investigation and executed a search warrant, leading to the arrests.
The three were charged with 13 counts of failure to provide proper food and drink to impounded animals and were arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip on Tuesday.