At least seven canines have been returned to an accused animal hoarder by the city after one of the dogs plummeted three stories to its death and was killed.
On Friday, irate neighbors discovered authorities returning the abused dogs to Stacey Kirkland’s Broome Street apartment, and they feared the worst.
“How could they allow those dogs to return?” a neighbor asked incredulously.
The terrible incident occurred at 3 a.m. on November 4 according to a time-stamped video obtained by The Post. The puppy fell from an apparently unlocked third-story window and landed next to a parked car on Broome Street.
The footage shows the puppy momentarily standing and walking in a circle before falling. The resident stated that neighbors and building personnel had regularly informed Kirkland that the dog was perilously perched near the window.
According to neighbors and the NYPD, Kirkland was transported to a hospital for evaluation and her remaining nine dogs were brought to the city’s Animal Care Centers.
This week, Kirkland, who is accused of “terrifying” her neighbors in court documents, reappeared. The resident and a witness assert that only seven dogs were returned, however according to an ACC spokesperson, Kirkland received all nine of her canines back.
The spokesperson refused to disclose the reason for the dogs’ return.
The resident who has accused Kirkland of threatening him stated, “That makes no sense whatsoever.”
Landlord Hung Thanh Inc filed a lawsuit against Kirkland in August, alleging in court documents that she routinely screams at neighbors, pounds on their doors, tosses metal and ceramic objects at them, and obstructs corridors and the building entrance with several packages.
In the case, the landlord asserted that Kirkland’s severe hoarding, both inside and outside the unit, has rendered the building a “virtual tinderbox.”
“She is not defenseless. She is extremely aggressive, according to Peter Kolodny, Hung Thanh’s attorney. We are attempting to free her.
According to the lawsuit, Kirkland has resided in the rent-stabilized third-floor apartment since at least 2007 and has not paid the $1,245 rent in “years.”
“In this scenario, the landlord could not care less about the money. “They are afraid and just care about saving their building,” Kolodny said.
Kirkland alleges that multiple health issues have left her too exhausted to clean and handle parcels, and she accused the landlord of intimidating her in a September court filing.