LI Mom Accused Of 'Concentration Camp' For Dogs
 

Police Make Horrific Discovery In Selden Woman's Backyard After Tip To Rescue Group

SELDEN, N.Y. (CBS) ― Investigators found a backyard burial ground, with the remains of at least 20 animals, behind the home of Long Island mother Sharon McDonough.
Sharon McDonough, 43, is charged with animal cruelty after investigators found a backyard burial ground, with the remains of at least 20 animals, behind her home. It looked like a scene straight out of a scary movie on Long Island as authorities uncovered a mass burial site for animals in a woman's backyard.


Now, the Selden mother is charged with animal cruelty, and that appears to be just the beginning.

Sharon McDonough, 43, started the day cuffed and collared following a nightmare discovery at her home.

"It gives me the shivers," one neighbor said. "That's all I can say."

In an eerie scene Saturday night, investigators found a backyard burial ground, with the remains of at least 20 animals, behind McDonough's house. The remains were brought out in black plastic bags.

"This is one of the worst cases of animal abuse I have seen in the last 25 years I have been doing this," Chief Roy Gross, of the Suffolk County SPCA, said.

The gruesome revelation has left many in the neighborhood shaken.

"It looked like a real murder scene, as if they were gonna pull out dead bodies out there," neighbor Andrea Martinez said. "The smell was unbearable. They were taking bags out by the dozen. It was crazy."

It all started Thursday, when a local rescue group contacted police about conditions at the house. When authorities arrived, they knew something was amiss.

"We recovered at that time five dogs that were crammed in small cages, that appeared to be in danger, that were removed," Chief Gross said.

That kicked off an investigation that eventually led to the backyard. Now, investigators are looking into complaints about animals disappearing from the neighborhood, and allegations that McDonough tortured, killed, and buried them behind her house.

"It's really shocking, just unbelievable," said neighbor Greg Crecco.

One family says their dog and two cats have been missing, and they fear that the pets may be part of the terrible discovery.

"I'm really concerned about that – that everyone lose animals and they're just buried in the backyard," said neighbor Nicholas Dinubila.

Complicating matters, authorities say McDonough had seven children who lived with her in the house.

So far, McDonough is only facing misdemeanor animal cruelty charges for the dogs found inside her home on Thursday.

She's free from jail Sunday night after pleading not guilty, but authorities say she could face more serious charges after investigators determine how the animals buried in the backyard died.

"It was a concentration camp for the animals," the suspect's son, Douglas McDonough, said. "My sisters and me, we got the end of it, too."

Investigators tell CBS 2 that McDonough's eldest son was the one who tipped off the rescue group to conditions at the home.

Meawhile, the live animals recovered from McDonough's home, including several dogs and a cat, are doing fine. They are currently up for adoption at the Suffolk County SPCA.

CBS 2's Scott Rapoport contributed to this report.

HORROR: LI Mom Accused Of Turning Home Into 'Concentration Camp' For Animals - wcbstv.com

OMG:eek: This woman is very sick. How she got this far is unbelievable.
No one in the family could tell how sick she was? Scary.

Just heartwrenching!! I feel so sorry for those poor children too!:(

oh wow, this is just making me want to puke....i'm so tired of these sick types of people out there...i was just watching s*x rehab with Dr. Drew last night and listening to the horrible stories of molestation of some of the addicts and i just lost it when this one guy talked about his horrifying experience...i don't understand how anyone could harm an innocent child or animal in the ways that you hear about on the news. what is wrong with people that they think these things are normal behaviors!?!?

This is just horrible.

Sick sick sick and those poor children too omg

OMG, that is HORRIBLE.. what a situation for those kids and animals..
hugs,:eek:
Carmen in nj

All I can say is that Animals should be treated better than people because they cant speek up, save themselfs, or have a choice... She should be treated even worse than she treated those guys....

when i saw this on the news, i saw hatred for that lady..
they should hang her.:mad:

Sick,Sick,Sick:mad:

Absolutely Heartbreaking. I once had a kitten that was murdered and it was a very traumatizing experience. It taught me the importance of keeping cats indoors. It can be a very cruel world out there to animals. I sincerely hope this woman has not been stealing neighborhood pets in addition to abusing her own. :(

That is just awful:eek:

What is wrong with people????? I hope this lady gets what she deserves!! This makes me so angry.....

Gives me a knot in my stomach. There is a special place in hell for that woman. May she be tortured before she gets there.:mad::mad::mad:

OMG!!! How horrible!!! What in the world is going on this month? The Ohio rapist / murder, Texas shooting, the babysitter who put the baby under her bed and reported it kidnapped, and now this What The Heck is going on?! We really need to bring back public stoning!!!