Last month, Glen Cove police officers and code enforcers responded to a myriad of complaints lodged by neighbors of an abandoned house at 19 Eastland Drive on East Island. The complaints were nothing new for the neighbors: barking dogs, rat infestation on the premises, feces and urine odors were among the least of their concerns. The result of the raid on the house was the removal of 11 dogs, black Labs and golden retrievers, who were taken to either the city's animal shelter or to a local veterinary hospital. The dogs were kept in the house without heat, food or potable water. One of the dogs had to be euthanized.

On Valentine's Day, animal lovers, volunteers with the Glen Cove Animal Lovers League, East Island residents, four police officers and five court officers packed Judge Richard McCord's courtroom in Glen Cove City Court to hear the fate of Manhattan administrative law judge Marilyn Shapiro, the owner of 19 Eastland Drive. Through her attorney, Eugene McElroy, Ms. Shapiro, pleaded not guilty to all charges either relating to the mistreatment of the dogs, (Agriculture and Markets Law), or to a list of violations of the city's municipal code. Ms. Shapiro allegedly mistreated the 11 dogs at 19 Eastland Drive and she is alleged by the city to have operated an illegal kennel on those premises within a rodent-infested, debris-filled, feces-littered mess.

During court proceedings, the assistant district attorney, Jeanine Sarbach, asked the court to allow the dogs to be adopted into loving homes. City Attorney Doug Warden advised Judge McCord that the defendant had agreed to forfeit ownership of the dogs. Mr. Warden also said the defendant had agreed to reimburse the Glen Cove Animal Lovers League the $4,388.25 volunteers had spent to date in caring for the dogs and to euthanize one.

Ms. Shapiro's attorney will be sending a check in that amount within two weeks that will be forwarded to the Animal Lovers League. Judge McCord enjoined the defendant from ownership of any animal pending the resolution of this matter. He also ordered the city to send an engineer or other appropriate professional, by the close of business Feb. 14, to inspect the abandoned house and determine if it is hazardous to the community at large. Judge McCord said if the house is determined to be a hazard, a hearing would be set immediately, otherwise the case would be heard on March 14. Mayor Thomas Suozzi has pledged that any fines and restitution recovered by the city as a result of prosecuting this case will go to the Animal Lovers League. The city is seeking up to $10,000 in fines. The city's building department has directed Ms. Shapiro to retain a rodent exterminating firm in order to render 19 Eastland Drive in compliance with the law. East Island residents are urged to keep children away from the property as rat traps and baits will be placed by the exterminator.

Ms. Shapiro was released in her own recognizance and a temporary restraining order barring her from owning animals was issued later the same afternoon. In addition, Judge McCord asked that the defendant's exact address be determined as court documents were unclear. Ms. Shapiro will be back in city court on March 14.