Horror As 48 Dogs Found Crammed in NYC Apartment: ‘Some Hidden in Closets’

In what officials are calling one of the most-shocking cases of animal neglect in recent memory, 48 Belgian Malinois and German shepherd mix dogs were rescued from a severely overcrowded apartment in Queens, New York City. The animals had been living in squalid, inhumane conditions without access to sunlight or outdoor space.

Detectives from the NYPD Animal Cruelty Squad have arrested 37-year-old Isaak Yadgarov, charging him with 48 counts of animal cruelty and 48 counts of neglecting an impounded animal. Police say Yadgarov did not live in the apartment but had a listed address in Fresh Meadows, about four miles away.

Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC) and the ASPCA responded to the disturbing scene around 11:30 a.m. last Thursday; they found dogs crammed into every corner of the seventh-floor apartment, including closets and kitchen cabinets, and behind furniture.

“It is one of the most-disturbing animal-welfare cases that we have ever encountered,” ACC said in a viral video on TikTok. “These dogs were found living in a filthy, cramped Queens apartment with no access to the outdoors, no fresh air or sunlight, and no place but their tiny, cramped quarters to go to the bathroom.”

“These dogs have reportedly lived in total confinement for their entire lives,” said Tara Mercado, ACC’s director of behavior and shelter operations. “We found full-grown Malinois hidden in cabinets and crammed behind furniture.”

The animals—ranging from young puppies to full-grown adults—were severely undersocialized and fearful when discovered. Rescuers worked for two days to safely locate, remove, and transport the dogs to care facilities.

“They received immediate medical care and grooming, probably for the first time in their lives,” said ACC. “Even walking was hard for them, as they had likely never had so much room to move.”

Shelter Animals Count says approximately 250,000 animals are estimated to be victims of animal hoarding each year in the United States, with dogs being one of the most commonly hoarded species alongside cats

The rescue was made possible through a collaborative effort between ACC, the ASPCA, and more than 10 specialized rescue partners. Most of the dogs have now been placed in temporary foster or rescue situations.

“Their journey is just beginning as they slowly adjust to the world they’ve never known,” ACC said. “But they’re safe and starting to heal because of extraordinary teamwork and community support.”

Yadgarov had been the subject of complaints for nearly two years, neighbors and rescue organizations said. The operation moved forward only after the property’s landlord initiated eviction proceedings. Yadgarov was issued a desk appearance ticket and is scheduled to appear in Queens Criminal Court on June 2.

The ACC shared the story on TikTok where the video has over 1.2 million views. In the clip, they urged people to continue to adopt as shelters in New York City continue to struggle with capacity issues. Adoption fees for all large dogs have been waived through the end of May.

“Please consider adopting and help us give more dogs the second chance that they deserve,” the ACC said.

Newsweek reached out to the NYPD Animal Cruelty Squad via email for comment.