A pet grooming business and self-described animal shelter located at 980 East East Gun Hill Road in the Williamsbridge section of The Bronx was raided by police and a rescue carried out by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) on Thursday, May 1. It follows allegations by residents of alleged animal neglect at the location.

 

When we contacted the NYPD on May 1 about the raid, we were informed they were still investigating and couldn’t release any information. When we called again on May 2, we were referred to the Bronx District Attorney’s office who confirmed a raid was carried out based on a search warrant and that no arrests were made. They referred us to the ASPCA for more information.

 

The ASPCA provided us with the following video which shows rescuers removing cats and dogs from the business (including at least one dog which was seemingly a bit dirty looking and panting as if potentially dehydrated) along with some photos (attached) of the rescue. ASPCA also shared the following statement. “The ASPCA and the Bronx District Attorney’s Office collaborated today to rescue more than 30 animals, including dogs, cats and rabbits, from a self-described shelter on East Gun Hill Road in The Bronx, N.Y.”

 

It continued, “The animals were removed from the property following the execution of a search warrant after authorities received multiple reports of animals living in poor conditions. The animals, including young kittens, are receiving veterinary forensic exams, and will be transported to ASPCA facilities where they will receive medical and behavioral care.”

Norwood News received unconfirmed reports of additional pet businesses in New York City that were also raided in recent days and asked the NYPD, the Bronx District Attorney’s Office, and the ASPCA about these also, but did not receive any additional information from the NYPD or the Bronx District’s Attorney’s office, other than what was shared above.

 

We were previously in touch with the police in relation to prior complaints about the 980 East Gun Hill Road business in March. Further information on this is outlined further below. We will share any additional feedback we receive from either party in due course. Meanwhile, the ASPCA said, “The ASPCA only removed and took in animals from that property [980 East Gun Hill Road, Bronx]. To my understanding, animals were not seized from other locations.”

 

On March 26, a Bronx resident had contacted us in the context of a previous story we had written in May 2024 about alleged animal abuse after a pit-bull was abandoned in Bronx Park East. Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark later confirmed the allegations were under investigation by her office.

At the time, the resident said she was seeking any help she could get on what she alleged was animal abuse taking place at a facility called Pet Life that she said was open and operating at 980 Gun Hill Road, despite what she said was a tremendous quantity of calls and emails to 911, 311, SPCA [another animal welfare group], ASPCA, and the district attorney’s office. “We are desperately seeking any help we can get,” she said.

 

When Norwood News reached out to the NYPD about the alleged abuse on March 28, and asked if the allegations were true, if complaints had been received in respect of the business, and if any arrests had been made, we were informed that between Jan. 1 and March 27, 2025, three 911 calls were received on March 16, March 24, and March 26 for reports of animal cruelty and all were unfounded.

 

They said a further six alleged animal abuse 311 calls were received on Jan. 17, Feb. 2, March 15, March 16, March 19 (twice), and March 22 (twice) and the first three were unfounded. They said the March 16th call was referred to another (City) agency, regarding the March 19th call, the NYPD was “unable to enter,” and on March 22, the report was unfounded.

Norwood News reached out to the pet business on May 1 following the raid, and asked for comment. A representative answered and said, “Yes, my mom is the owner, I’m director of treasury.” She continued, “Yes, so today, the police came in with a search warrant from the Bronx DA’s Office signed yesterday at 3:50. They alleged that we were neglecting our animals with no food and water although they had come here and I’m saying ‘they,’ as the ASPCA along with their veterinarians and the animal control center, the animal control rescue team, they actually came in, did a thorough investigation.”

 

The director added, “They had to examine every animal. Out of all 40 of our animals, only two cats had teary-eye, one dog needed antibiotics for cherry-eye; he’s 10 years old. They said there was no foul play, and they had no intention of shutting us down. At that point, they did not have a warrant. We let them in willingly. We come back today, Thursday at 10 a.m. They come knocking down our cameras and ambushing our facility. Also, they did take out every animal and they took them to the ASPCA to put them down. Yes, every animal, they took them and put them down.”

 

Asked how many animals were taken by the ASPCA, the director replied, “40.” Asked if she knew for sure they were put down, she said, “Yes.” When contacted about this allegation that animals were put down, an ASPCA representative said, “That is not accurate. The animals are receiving medical and behavioral care.”

 

The female director continued in part, “The 47 [NYPD Precinct] can vouch that they come here; they come here regularly, and they have never, ever made a report of foul play or neglect.” We asked the director if they knew where the complaint came from. She said in part, “The complaint came from […] who goes by the name of ‘P.J. Da Balla.’ P.J. was on a sports tour, so he claimed. He left his animal here for two months. When he came back, his animal was, I want to say, 10 pounds lighter although his animal did come in with a disease.”

 

She continued, “He went on social media, and it was very controversial, and he started the pot and from then, we’ve been getting multiple phone call complaints just about his dog. We’ve been getting excessive complaints everywhere, Google listings, Cash App, they’re requesting money from us from Cash App and Excreta.”

Norwood News tried to locate the referenced social media posts by P.J. Da Balla and to ask him for comment on the director’s allegations but were unable to find them under the name provided. Asked how long they had been in business, the director said, “Five years. We have two locations actually but this one, five years.” The second location is at 320 East 141st Street, The Bronx.

 

We also spoke to a second resident who declined to be identified on May 1 about the latest raid on the premises and she said in part, “They have a lot of animals inside, yeah. It takes some time to facilitate, you know, taking pictures, video evidence, you know getting the animals out of there and taking account of what they’re doing.”

 

She added in part, “The ASPCA had already gone in and removed, I believe, it was 30 plus animals, cats and dogs. No arrests were made, still operating as normal.”

We asked if there were any animals left on the premises after the raid and the second resident said, “They have no animals, but they’re still operating. You know they do grooming. They do boarding. They sell products and who’s to say that somebody else isn’t going to go there and relinquish their animals.” The resident also made other allegations which we are unable to corroborate at this time. “I’ve been following them for two years, two plus years.”

 

When we recounted to her what the treasury director told us, the second resident alleged, “I know for a fact that’s not true. That’s why they (the ASPCA) went back. They would have never gone back there for a somewhat emaciated animal, no way.” She said discussions were underway to pressure a newly appointed director at the Bronx District Attorney’s office and “maybe call attention to the [New York] attorney general.”

 

Asked about the second shop at 320 East 141st Street, the second resident said, “They say that was raided as well, but I can’t even confirm on that. This has been going on for a long time.” When we mentioned that there are 90% negative comments on the Pet Life website, Yelp and Google, she said, “I don’t know how this place is still operating.” We mentioned other negative comments made on other social media.

The second resident alleged, “So, a lot of people are commenting, and they want that place to be shut down, a lot of the locals. They don’t have a good reputation. I’m not saying that they didn’t do a few good groomings, and they might have taken care of a few animals, but a lot of what they’re doing is not very ethical.”

 

Asked if the second resident lived in the local area where the pet business was located, she said, “I’m not from the area, but I do have people that live in the area.”

 

Asked if she was an animal rights activist, she said, I’m a pet mom. I’m a pet lover, advocate. I suppose you can say I’m an activist.” Asked how she first heard about the issue, the second resident said, “I know locals that live around there, and they’ve been there, themselves, and being that I surround myself with animal lovers and, you know, people that live in the area and conversations start…”

She added, “You try and kind of do your own diligence and before you know it, here we are two years later with all this evidence and trying to get the attention from the district attorney’s office and other places and for whatever reason, I don’t know….” She trailed off.

 

We asked if she meant the issue fell through the cracks. She alleged, “Well, I think part of it is political. There’s a councilman named Kevin Riley (C.D. 12) that is probably less than 200 feet from them. I know people that have personally called him to call attention to this place, for them to investigate, for them to do something and for whatever reason, they are protecting them.”

 

We reached out to Riley’s office for comment and will share any feedback we receive. We’ve also reached out again to Pet Life for comment on the two residents’ comments and allegations and will share any feedback we receive.

 

To report allegations of animal cruelty, please contact the NYPD and/or the ASPCA, please see below.

• Report Cruelty:In New York City: 311 (or 911 for crimes in progress)Outside NYC: Visit our Report Animal Cruelty page.

 

Hundreds of pets are currently available for adoption on the Animal Care Center of New York’s website, https://nycacc.app/. The number for the center is (212) 788 4000. We also reached out to ACC in the context of this story for comment and will share any feedback we receive.

Animal Cruelty complaints across New York City for the second half of 2023 totaled 225, while arrests for such complaints totaled 66. A breakdown per precinct is attached in our previous story which can be read here. Bronx Precincts are designated 40 to 52.

On Tuesday afternoon, April 29, sometime between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Norwood News witnessed a man repeatedly swearing in a loud voice and verbally threatening a large dog he was holding on a leash inside the East 205th Street / Norwood subway station, serving the D train. He exited at the Kingsbridge Road subway station. The dog appeared to be thirsty.