At least four volunteers at Ruff House Rescue (RHR) continuously urged director and president Diane Indelicato that Tali, a grey and white pitbull, needed immediate veterinary attention, according to charging documents filed by the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office.
Days later, on Nov. 6, Tali was found dead in her kennel.
Formal complaints by RHR volunteers led to an investigation by the district attorney’s Biological, Environmental and Animal Safety Team (BEAST). Authorities said in the charging documents that Tali was “in an obvious danger of physical pain, suffering, and death” during her time at Ruff House Rescue, which is located on Higbie Lane in West Islip.
Tali suffered from multiple large, ulcerated masses on her abdomen that were actively leaking blood and pus; severe and apparent dermatological distress; obviously swollen limbs; noticeable respiratory distress; lethargy and general physical deterioration.
Indelicato was arrested March 17 and charged with one misdemeanor count of “torturing or injuring animals/failure to provide sustenance.” She pleaded not guilty during her arraignment on March 31 and was released on her own recognizance.
Despite the details of Tali’s condition, many of those who have experience with the nonprofit organization were heartbroken, but not surprised. According to those that have associated with Indelicato and Ruff House Rescue, Tali’s death is not an isolated case; it reflects a long-standing pattern of neglect.
Earlier this year, Hailey Verderosa-Morris sought to adopt a young RHR puppy, Leon. Since he was not up to date on his vaccines, and therefore not available for adoption yet, Verderosa-Morris began fostering to adopt on March 15.
Leon fell ill within the first week.
According to Verderosa-Morris, she contacted RHR for Leon to be examined. Instead, she was given unmarked medication for him to take. Within 48 hours of administering the pills, Leon began throwing up frequently.
Verderosa-Morris said she contacted RHR again for an examination, fearing Leon may have had worms, as he had been very bloated upon fostering him and had rapidly lost weight. She claims she was given more unmarked medication in a Ziplock bag and advised to administer the medication once an hour, plus Pedialyte.
“He was losing rapid weight; he became very lethargic. He started pooping blood and throwing up,” said Verderosa-Morris. “I contacted them and told them I do not know if he will have 72 hours. She [Diane] said to just keep giving it to him.”
The foster mom claims she eventually received approval from the Ruff House Rescue director to take Leon to a veterinarian. While Indelicato insisted on a veterinarian an hour away, Verderosa-Morris went to a nearby animal hospital instead, fearful that Leon would not last an hour’s drive.
“She wanted her price for going to her vet, at the cost of him possibly dying on the way there,” explained Verderosa-Morris.
At the emergency room, Leon was given a 50 percent survival rate. According to Verderosa-Morris, Indelicato texted her husband in a rage, stating that she should not have had to pay so much money for just one puppy.
Indelicato took Leon from the animal hospital and ended the fostering agreement. Verderosa-Morris said she later learned Leon had Addison’s disease, a hormonal disorder. According to Canine Addison’s Resources & Education (CARE), dogs with typical Addison’s should not be given Pedialyte or Gatorade-type products because they contain potassium.
“This is what happens when people would rather see the money than bring him in. They diagnose over a phone call, over a text message,” said Verderosa-Morris. “He was skin and bones at the end because they said it was just worms.”
Others who took in Ruff House Rescue dogs claim to have similar experiences with the nonprofit.
“They did provide me with unmarked medication in Ziplock baggies and liquid wormer in water bottles!,” said Kristy Kulynych-Gmelch, who adopted a dog from RHR. “He started getting better when I stopped using what they were giving me to treat him, hundreds to easily thousands or more later.”
Other nearby businesses are aware of Indelicato’s reputation for misconduct. RHR held an unauthorized adoption event from the Ruff House Rescue van outside PetSmart in North Babylon in April of 2024. RHR was asked by PetSmart to leave the premises. The organization continued to hold unauthorized adoption events on the opposite side of the parking lot.
“One time, they parked in front of the bank here, and we called security because we knew it was not authorized,” said Brianna Lee, a PetSmart manager.
According to ProPublica, records show that Ruff House rescue has been tax-exempt since November 2010, and Indelicato was compensated $114,000 in 2023, which is about 18.3 percent of their total expenses.
Multiple sources affiliated with RHR claim the adoption fee is about $500 per dog.
Indelicato is facing additional legal trouble. A holdover eviction has been filed by landlord Roxy Girl Holding against Ruff House Rescue Inc. to remove the organization from the 467 Higbie Lane property. The eviction was filed April 8, three weeks after the arrest of Indelicato. The case will appear in Suffolk County 5th District Court on May 2.
Indelicato will appear in First District Court at 9 a.m. on May 8 regarding the animal cruelty charge. Indelicato’s attorney, Jan Drew Goldman, did not respond for comment at the time of publication.
