A Long Island woman pleaded not guilty to charges of animal cruelty -- accused of kidnapping and murdering neighbors' pets, then burying them in her backyard.

Authorities have excavated at least 20 animals from the family's backyard in Selden, according to the SPCA. The investigation comes after neighbors say their pets have gone missing, one by one.

Sharon McDonough, 43, was arrested after neighbors called police on suspicion of animal abuse and neglect.

Five dogs, a cat, a bird and a hamster were taken from the house after investigators suspected they were in "imminent danger." Authorities say they were found cramped in cages, covered in their own filth.

McDonough lives with her seven children, which range in age from 18 months to 21, neighbors said. Sources say McDonough frequently involved her children in the animal killings by asking them to hold pets down as she tortured them. Authorities are now also investigating allegations of child abuse.

McDonough could still face larceny charges if any of the animals are found to have belonged to people in the neighborhood.

The excavation and investigation is ongoing.

Update 11/9/09:  A Selden woman is facing animal cruelty charges after being accused of killing more than 20 dogs and burying them in her backyard, Suffolk County SPCA officials said.

  (Photo courtesy of WPIX) According to Sharon McDonough's son, his mother routinely went on "power trips" by purchasing a dog and would then ultimately decide to kill the animal and add it to the mass graveyard behind her home.

Investigators unearthed more than a dozen animal remains from McDonough's backyard. According to reports, her seven children knew what was going on but couldn't do anything to stop her.

A local rescue group alerted authorities about the deplorable conditions of the home when they visited.

The charges against McDonough - who is a widow - could evolve into felony counts if authorities determine the animals were intentionally killed. She has pleaded not guilty in a Central Islip court.

SPCA official Roy Gross said 5 dogs were found in bad shape, living in small cages without food or water at her home. In addition, a cat, also found malnourished, was rescued.

The rescued dogs are a shepherd mix, a beagle mix, and Italian greyhound, a cocker spaniel mix and a pug. So far, the greyhound has been adopted, however homes for the other abused animals are still being sought.

Update 11/10/09:  The children of a Long Island mother - accused of killing dogs and burying them in a makeshift graveyard - have been removed from her home.

A judge issued the order in Suffolk County Family Court in Central Islip. Two of the children will reportedly live with an older brother and the other four will be cared for by relatives or be placed in Foster Care. The youngest child is 18 months.

  (Photo courtesy of WPIX)  Sharon McDonough of Selden pleaded not guilty to six counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty. She may face additional charges after remains of 20 animals were found buried in her backyard.

Investigators are trying to out if any other dead animals have been stolen.   Investigators unearthed more of the animal remains from McDonough's backyard.

Update 1/19/10:  A Long Island woman pleaded not guilty to abusing her children and family pets, sometimes forcing the children to witness her torturing animals to death, prosecutors said.

"This is a case where a mother subjected her children to the most unimaginable and horrific living conditions that I have ever seen," Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota said. "These kids were beaten, they were starved, they lived in absolutely horrendous conditions within their own household and this was done intentionally by the mother."

  (Photo courtesy of James Carbone, The Associated Press)  Sharon McDonough, 43, killed numerous kittens and dogs, stashing the dead cats in the trash, and burying 42 dead dogs in the backyard of her Selden, Long Island, home, Spota said. The dogs were buried, he said, because some had identifying microchips implanted in them and McDonough feared being discovered if the carcasses were found in the trash.

The children were not only abused, but were forced to witness the deaths of family pets, the prosecutor said.

"Our investigation found evidence she wrapped duct tape around a cat's nose and mouth and hung the animal from her child's bunk bed, killing the cat," Spota said, adding the woman's "11-year-old daughter witnessed the cruelty."

On another occasion in 2006, McDonough allegedly strangled a Maltese dog in the presence of her older daughter, who was 10 at the time, Spota said. The Maltese carcass was among those found buried in the yard, prosecutors said.

McDonough's court-appointed attorney, James Saladino, told the judge he was considering an insanity defense for his client, who is being held on $100,000 bail. Saladino declined to elaborate outside court, saying he had just been assigned to the case and needed to investigate the allegations.

McDonough also is accused of using excessive corporal punishment because her toddler's crying woke her up. "According to two of the children, Mrs. McDonough slapped the baby's back repeatedly while screaming that she would kill the child," the prosecutor said.

A Family Court judge removed custody of McDonough's six daughters, ranging in age from 18 months to 13 years, from the home following her arrest in November. They are being cared for by relatives, an attorney for the children said.

Searches by the Suffolk County SPCA later uncovered the 42 buried corpses in the yard. Necropsies determined some of the animals died of "unnatural causes," including some found with evidence their mouths had been duct-taped shut, prosecutors said.

She could face up to two years in prison if convicted of the top charge, aggravated animal cruelty. She also is charged with child endangerment and animal torture, misdemeanors that carry up to a year in jail. The prosecutor said he will lobby the state legislature for changes in the law to increase penalties for child endangerment.

McDonough's adult son contacted authorities in November about the living conditions of his younger siblings. He had moved out of the home the previous August and grew increasingly concerned about the plight of the girls, Spota said.

There was no indication anyone had ever reported abuse in the home to Social Services, police or other agencies, Spota said.

Douglas McDonough, 21, told authorities the children were forced to subsist on peanut butter-and-jelly sandwiches and macaroni and cheese. At one point, he brought his sisters frozen TV dinners, but later learned that his mother had confiscated the food.

Other food in the house was the exclusive domain of the children's mother, the prosecutor said he was told. He described the home as "a concentration camp for the animals." He claimed he and some of his siblings were present when animals were abused and killed. He attended the arraignment, but declined to speak with reporters afterward.

After McDonough's arrest, some neighbors feared the worst for their pets which had disappeared in recent months. But Roy Gross of the Suffolk County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals later concluded that McDonough bought the animals or adopted them through shelters and other traditional outlets.

Update 1/21/10:  A New York woman accused of forcing her children to torture household pets and burying dozens of animals in her backyard has been indicted on charges of child endangerment, animal cruelty and animal torture, according to court records

McDonough, is scheduled to be arraigned on the upgraded charges on January 20th in Suffolk County Court in Riverhead, on Long Island. Her attorney said she will plead not guilty.

A court website lists 12 new charges against the mother of seven. Six of the counts are for endangering the welfare of a child, all misdemeanors; she also faces two counts of felony aggravated cruelty to animals and four misdemeanor counts of torturing or injuring animals.

Details of the crimes were not revealed because the indictment remains under seal until her court date; her attorney confirmed she faces an arraignment on the new charges.

Defense attorney James D'Angelo said his client is not guilty.  "We intend to vigorously fight these charges," D'Angelo said. He added that "she absolutely denies" that she forced her children to participate in torture.

McDonough was arrested in November on six misdemeanor animal cruelty counts after authorities found five dogs and a cat found crammed into cages, covered in feces and urine, their coats matted with filth. A Family Court judge removed custody of McDonough's six daughters, ranging in age from 18 months to 13 years, from the home.

Subsequent searches by the Suffolk County SPCA uncovered 42 animals buried in the backyard. Necropsies later determined that some of the animals' mouths had been duct taped shut.

Douglas McDonough, 21, who turned in his mother on Nov. 5, described the home as "a concentration camp for the animals." He claimed he and some of his siblings were present when animals were abused and killed. He did not immediately respond to an e-mail Tuesday seeking comment.

After McDonough's arrest, some neighbors feared the worst for pets that disappeared in recent months. But Roy Gross of the Suffolk County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals later concluded that McDonough bought the animals or adopted them through shelters and other traditional outlets. Gross declined to comment on the upgraded charges.

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