Long Island animal rescue group facing mall eviction

MASSAPEQUA (WABC) -- Since opening in February, Pets4Luv has rescued and adopted more than 160 cats and dogs.

They've been in a rather unlikely place - inside the Westfield Sunrise Mall in Massapequa.

The group signed a temporary lease, and found out about three weeks ago that the mall was ending their lease early.

A spokeswoman for the mall issued a statement to Eyewitness News saying, "the time has come to move forward with planned improvements to the shopping center, and the space is required for that work."

"We don't need another restaurant; we don't need another high end store. This is really giving back to the community," said Elyse Giurco of Pets4Luv.

Giurco says the mall tried to move them to another space but it didn't have a ceiling or plumbing. Attorneys for both sides are meeting and are trying to come up with a deal - and it couldn't come soon enough.

Giurco adds that because of this whole thing over the past two week, they've had to turn away some animals because they didn't know if they would have room for them.

"People want this here there are a lot of animal lovers around," she adds.

"You have old people that's come in in their wheelchairs to say hi to the animals. You have parents that bring their kids and the kids come in and play with the cats and everything," said volunteer Georgia Krieg.

If they like one - they take it home.

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