Updated: Glen Cove Woman Arrested for Hoarding 100 Cats

Editor's Note: The number of cats and kittens rescued from a Glen Cove home has been updated from nearly 70 to 100.

One hundred cats and kittens and three ferrets were rescued from a Glen Cove home Thursday after a 56-year-old tenant was arrested for hoarding animals in near unlivable conditions, police said.

Betty Bjorkman, of 43 Elm Avenue, was arrested on Tuesday and charged with Animal Cruelty, a Class A Misdemeanor, said Detective Joe Graziosi of the . 

While police said that Bjorkman technically faces up to one year in prison for each cat found, both Graziosi and Glen Cove Police Chief William Whitton said that the woman does not necessarily deserve prison time.

"Because none of the cats were harmed, I'd say she needs more counseling than prison time," Graziosi said. "She poses no threat of physical harm to the animals. The living conditions and lack of food and water is what led to the charges."

Bjorkman – who is in the process of being evicted from her home – has lived at 43 Elm Avenue for two years, Graziosi said. 

The smell of cat urine lingered around the Elm Avenue home, as volunteers from the  carried out over 20 cats and kittens during a rescue mission on Thursday afternoon. Forty-two cats had already been rescued and brought to the shelter on Tuesday and Wednesday, said Joan Phillips, president and co-founder of the league.

"The number is absolutely staggering," Phillips said, "and probably one of the largest animal cruelty cases in Long Island's history."

Phillips said on Friday that the final count reached 103 animals rescued, including three ferrets; and rescuers are still on the lookout for one black cat who tore through a second t story window screen, jumped to the ground and escaped onto another street.

"If it's a friendly cat, it will start coming to people in the neighborhood for food," Phillips said. "Then someone from the shelter can come get it."

"The house looks normal; there's no mess," said a neighbor. "Nobody knew."

Phillips said that a veterinarian confirmed that the air inside the house was toxic due to high levels of ammonia.

Three shelter volunteers  – Cesar Villalobos, Leo Penate and Michael Vines –  ventured into the residence, clad in Tyvek protective suits, respirators, boots, gloves, and goggles. They entered the home, armed with crates, to rescue the frightened animals and transport them to the Shore Road shelter.

"The house is very messy; very inhumane," Villalobos said during a short break while  performed a routine checkup.

An investigator from was also on hand to assist with the operation.

Phillips said that the cats and kittens are all very adoptable and will be given necessary shots, be de-wormed, spayed ,and neutered. 

"The cats weren't hurt or starved, and they don't have flees," Phillips said. "When they leave our shelter, they won't be able to reproduce and get into this situation again." 

Animal League employee Diane Connolly said that the rescue operation was a great community effort.

"We had really great cooperation from the D.A. Cruelty Unit, Glen Cove Police, city marshal, and ," Connolly said. "They all really went above and beyond. Everyone was really compassionate on both sides. They weren't angry with anyone. She [Bjorkman] was just a nice woman with a problem."

Bjorkman is scheduled to appear in Glen Cove court on April 19.

Phillips said that the shelter is accepting cash donations, cat food and scoopable litter.

Patch will update this story as more information becomes available.