HEBRON — A Hebron woman was charged with animal cruelty Friday immediately after officers identified dozens of pet dogs and cats, as properly as parakeets, goats, geese and a pony, in repugnant circumstances, officials explained.
Quite a few businesses went to the dwelling of 59-year-old Joann Connelly on Wednesday just after a criticism was manufactured that she had moved and still left a huge range of animals driving. The home on Porter Road was detailed as a licensed animal importer termed CT Pregnant Doggy and Cat Rescue, in accordance to Connelly’s arrest warrant application.
Arriving officers were greeted by a unfastened doggy and an “overwhelming odor of urine and feces,” the warrant stated. One officer claimed they could odor the odor about 15 feet absent from the open up entrance doorway.
Officers explained the dwelling was “extremely filthy,” with the flooring included in urine and feces, newspaper clippings, canine food stuff and dirt.
“Air high-quality is even worse than poor,” a single officer pointed out.
A point out animal command officer noticed 30 pet dogs on the to start with degree of the residence — 29 of which ended up confined in crates that ended up dirty with urine, feces and made use of pee pads. 1 crate contained two large dogs, offering them very little room to move, the arrest warrant said.
In the basement, officers observed four 6-thirty day period-previous puppies with their mother. A single officer reported 4 of the puppies have been caged and one was unfastened, operating around on a flooring that was littered with particles, trash, urine, feces and parts of insulation and newspaper, in accordance to the warrant.
A back home in the basement contained 14 caged cats, some of which were being sharing cages, as perfectly as “feces, urine and kitty litter almost everywhere.” 5 further cats have been discovered on the 2nd ground of the home — three in the rest room and two in the bedroom, the warrant stated.
Officers also uncovered two parakeets in a cage in one particular of the bedrooms. The home was stuffed with “bird waste and filth” and there was also a sturdy scent of incense burning in the space “which is extremely detrimental to the overall health of the birds,” according to the warrant.
Outdoors the dwelling, officers located a pony and two goats in a shared living space and 3 geese, the warrant reported. It was unclear from the warrant no matter whether the geese were being also in the shelter or loose in the garden.
One particular officer observed that the shelter “contained so much designed-up fecal issue and hay particles that it blocked roughly half the doorway and the animals would have to climb up to enter.”
The warrant said that Connelly has been acquiring animals sent from other states. She reportedly experienced a shipping of much more animals scheduled for Saturday.
All animals uncovered in the residence ended up seized and are obtaining veterinary care, state law enforcement stated.
The incoming animals is “being managed and the animals have predetermined adoptive houses,” point out police mentioned. The state’s Animal Command will be tracking and ensuring these animals are heading to house with good treatment, point out law enforcement extra.
The warrant claims condition troopers assisted Hebron and Condition of Connecticut Animal Manage with serving the arrest warrant.
Connelly was charged Friday early morning with 3 counts of animal cruelty — one involving cats, just one involving dogs and just one involving birds. She was held on $10,000 bond and is scheduled to seem Monday in condition Top-quality Courtroom in Rockville, in accordance to the warrant.
This was not animal control’s first time inspecting Connelly’s property.
Hebron and point out animal regulate officers inspected the CT Expecting Canine and Cat Rescue on Feb. 28, 2020. Officers found that the household was soiled and smelled like canine, but was “not soiled sufficient that would alarm the wellness section,” the warrant said.
In the back again of the property, officers located 5 huge puppy crates every single containing a canine. Officers claimed “all the canine appeared to be in good order” and they left the property.
Nearly a yr later, on Feb. 5, 2021, a condition animal handle officer been given a complaint requesting a welfare test of a dog at the CT Pregnant Canine and Cat Rescue. An officer attempted to conduct the welfare check, but there was a locked gate and no accessibility to the household.
Connelly in no way confirmed officers the doggy but supplied paperwork “showing the doggy was vetted and that the canine was performing greater,” in accordance to the arrest warrant.
The condition Division of Agriculture’s Animal Control Unit received one more complaint about the rescue on July 19, 2021, after Ocean Condition Veterinarian Providers in Rhode Island stated Connelly brought 3 puppies to the medical center that appeared to have distemper.
The veterinarian mentioned Connelly refused to euthanize the animals. The veterinarian claimed the puppies were struggling and if they still left the hospital, two of the three would die, in accordance to the arrest warrant.
In advance of animal manage officers arrived, Connelly agreed to euthanize two of the three puppies. She took the 3rd puppy dog to a holistic veterinarian for additional treatment method. Officers later on found that two much more puppies from the exact same litter experienced been euthanized at the Boston Vet in advance of the Rhode Island take a look at, the warrant mentioned.
Also, officers issued Connelly infractions for failing to notify the Office of Agriculture of an adoption party. She was also issued a verbal warning for not vetting the puppies inside 48 hours of entering the condition.
On Sept. 16, 2021, an animal command officer acquired a complaint about Connelly neglecting her private puppies and pet dogs in the rescue.
The grievance said Connelly experienced extra than 25 pet dogs at her property that were residing in “an unclean, unhealthy and unsafe environment” and they had been “confined to crates the greater part of the working day,” the warrant said.
Point out police also received various grievances about animal abuse. Officers attempted several situations to access the dwelling, but had been unsuccessful, and there was not more than enough substantive evidence at the time to implement for a search warrant, the warrant reported.
Animal manage received yet another complaint in November 2021 relating to a dog from Connelly’s rescue that was introduced into the point out. The pet was “very unwell and diagnosed with Giardia” but afterwards recovered from the ailment, the warrant mentioned.
Connelly’s arrest Friday arrived following a joint investigation with the Hebron Animal Control, the Office of Agriculture’s Bureau of Regulatory Solutions Condition Animal Handle and the Hebron resident point out trooper.