A notorious animal hoarder has been charged with animal cruelty for keeping nearly 40 dogs and cats in her filthy Queens home – and already has a court order prohibiting her from keeping pets, prosecutors said Thursday.
Elizabeth Grant, 56, a self-described animal lover, kept 26 dogs and 12 cats in her garbage- and fly-strewn Jackson Heights home without water for the pets, according to the Queens District Attorney’s Office.
Police also reportedly found three dead cats in the house on 82nd Street.
When police arrived at Grant’s front door with a search warrant on May 21, they were hit by an overwhelming stench of ammonia, prosecutors said.
The smell was so bad that police officers and the ASPCA had to wear respirators due to eye irritation, according to the Queens District Attorney’s Office.
The furniture and floor of the dilapidated two-story house were reportedly covered with feces, fur and urine.
Authorities found the carcasses of three cats and dozens of living, matted pets they rescued, according to the criminal complaint against Grant, who once claimed she “couldn’t live without animals.”
One of the rescued dogs – a blind Shih Tzu – was emaciated, dehydrated and underweight, a veterinarian said after the rescue.
The frightened dogs and cats were taken to an ASPCA animal shelter and many of them have since been placed in “new, loving homes,” according to prosecutors.
According to the ASPCA, this was the fourth time Grant’s pet-filled home had been searched by officials.
The heartless animal hoarder was found guilty of 108 counts of animal cruelty after 70 pets were rescued from her property in 2016.
She was sentenced to three years probation and a judge banned her from owning pets until 2028.
But when pressed to sign documents banning her at her sentencing in 2018, Grant complained that her life without pets was meaningless.
“I can’t live without animals. I’m not married, I don’t have children. They are my children,” she told Queens Court Judge Stephanie Zaro at the time.
“I don’t care if you love them. They were hurt and you will not hurt another animal,” Zaro replied.
Grant was arraigned in Queens Supreme Court on Wednesday on 88 counts of aggravated animal cruelty, excessive driving, torturing or injuring an animal, criminal contempt and failure to provide a seized animal with adequate food and water.
A law enforcement source said police went to her home after receiving a tip about the deplorable conditions.
Her next court date is scheduled for September 27.
If convicted, she faces up to two years in prison.
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz sharply criticized Grant in a statement.
“Pets are not collector’s items,” Katz said. “They need care, adequate food, water and a clean place to live.”
“Sadly, the defendant is accused of little more than keeping pets and failing to provide basic care for his animals,” Katz added.
“Three animals died due to the defendant’s alleged negligence and the others suffered from diseases and other ailments.”
The Post was unable to reach Grant on Thursday.
