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The 60-year-old was arrested on Nov. 19 and is accused of hanging more than 25 dead cats, some of which were bludgeoned to death, from a tree on Overlook Terrace in Yonkers on April 24.
“Did the cats die because he couldn't properly care for them, did he neglect them because he liked to see them suffer, or did he actually kill them,” said Kiley Blackman, founder of Animal Defenders of Westchester ADOW and a Cat Protection Council of Westchester.
“Some of them died from blunt trauma to the head, were those mercy killings?"
Blackman said she that while she is happy to see that the case was investigated and being taken seriously, her organization has questions surrounding the investigation.
According to the Yonkers Police Department, Carcamo was charged with violating numerous counts of New York State Environmental Conservation Law (ECL 71-3501) and the Agriculture / Markets Law (AM 353) for putting the cats into plastic bags and hanging them from the tree. He was also charged with animal cruelty for failing to properly care for two cats found in his possession in July.
Carcamo is not charged with killing the cats.
“We still don't know if this guy was just a sad pathetic hoarder who tried his best but it got out of control and he hurt them when he couldn't cope anymore, or if they were sick and he was taking them off the streets...or if they were breeding and he was putting them out on the street,” said Leslie Hirschorn, a member of the Cat Protection Council of Westchester.
“Clearly, he needs psychological help as well as other assistance, so does it just end there at court for now and then starts all over again. The community has to get involved. There's just so much these volunteers can do on their own unless the community helps to stop the cycle of breeding, neglect and homelessness”
Animal Defenders of Westchester, the Cat Protection Council of Westchester (CPC), Forgotten Felines and other animal advocacy groups plan to attend the court hearing to educate individuals about animal hoarding, affordable veterinary care and how to respond to suspected animal cruelty.
“We hope that out of this sad case something good will emerge, some positive change for the well being of these animals and those who care for them,” said Hirschorn.
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