Sloan couple charged with abuse after 52 animals are confiscated from filthy apartment
A Sloan couple faces child endangerment and animal abuse charges after authorities discovered a filth-ridden apartment and an array of exotic animals Wednesday afternoon on Lackawanna Avenue, Cheektowaga police reported.
Police first became aware of the situation when paramedics from Rural/ Metro Medical Services responded to the multi-unit apartment house for an alert from a medical emergency bracelet.
“When paramedics entered the upper flat, they found conditions to be ‘deplorable,’ ” according to a statement by Cheektowaga police. “There was trash on the floor, and numerous cages containing animals were scattered throughout the house.”
Some of the animals appeared to be malnourished, police said. Police were then called to the scene.
Kristen Sokolik, 33, returned home with her two children, ages 4 and four months, to find police there. Her husband, Anthony Sokolik, 33, was then summoned home, and both were arrested, police said.
Child Protective Services took the two children and turned them over to a relative, police said.
The animals inside the apartment included snakes, lizards, toads, fish, cats, rabbits, birds, rats, gerbils, hamsters and turtles. SPCA officials were called and confiscated the animals.
In all, officials confiscated 52 live animals and a dead rat and bearded dragon, according to SPCA spokeswoman Gina Browning.
A veterinarian was evaluating the living animals at the SPCA’s Town of Tonawanda shelter Wednesday evening, Browning said.
“We’ll monitor the health [of the animals] and take care of them until the case goes to court,” she said.
She said the Sokoliks did not voluntarily surrender the animals to the SPCA. It’s not the first time SPCA officials have had dealings with the family, she said. Browning said the incident is likely a case of “animal hoarding.”
Officials also were individually classifying the animals to determine whether the mere possession of any of them is illegal in New York State.
“There’s no evidence of that yet,” Browning said Wednesday evening.
Police said the source of the medical alert page was an elderly woman living in the lower apartment at the residence. She was taken to an area hospital.
