Hoarding - 19 cats and dogs seized, 1 found dead Bedford, NH (US)Incident Date: Friday, Jan 28, 2011 County: Hillsborough
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged: Kimberly Lynne Connell
Case Updates: 1 update(s) available
Police who responded to an animal cruelty and neglect complaint Friday discovered a dead cat among 19 cats and dogs inside a Northgate Drive home.
When responders entered the home, they found nine dogs and 10 cats, several of them locked in cages and in varying stages of medical distress.
"I can tell you it was a deplorable state for the animals to be in," said Bedford police Detective Matt Fleming. "It was clearly bad conditions for the animals to try to live in."
Friday's discovery came about after an animal cruelty and neglect complaint and subsequent investigation by Bedford police. After gathering information, police obtained a search warrant from Merrimack District Court. At 11 a.m. Friday, police used that warrant to enter the 22 Northgate Drive home.
Police decided to seize the animals when they realized the scope of the neglect inside the residence. Together with officials from the Bedford Police Animal Control Division and the New Hampshire Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, police seized the animals, many of whom would need medical attention.
All 19 animals were taken to the NHSPCA headquarters in Stratham to receive care.
Animal cruelty and neglect charges have not been filed in the case, Fleming said, though an investigation is ongoing. Fleming would not release the name of the animals' owner.
"I can tell you it's highly possible that charges will be forthcoming, but the primary focus of today's search warrant was to execute that warrant, check the status of the animals and remove them as needed," Fleming said.
Cruelty charges will be the likely outcome of the police investigation, Fleming said.
"At this point it's likely that in this particular circumstance it would be a cruelty to animal charge," Fleming said. "That's what we'd be looking at."
Case UpdatesA Bedford woman faces animal cruelty charges after police rescued close to 20 animals in need of medical attention from her home on Jan. 28.
Kimberly Connell, 42, turned herself in to police on Friday. She is charged with two counts of cruelty to animals.
Detective Matt Fleming of the Bedford Police Department said officers rescued 10 cats and nine dogs from Connell's Northgate Drive home after officers received complaints about animal cruelty and neglect. Police said they found one cat already dead and the other animals in need of medical attention inside the home.
The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said the rescued animals were hungry and thirsty and had to be given water slowly so they didn't drink too fast.
Connell was released on a personal recognizance bail. She is scheduled to appear at the Merrimack District Court on March 7. | Source: wmur.com - Feb 4, 2011 Update posted on Feb 4, 2011 - 10:05PM |
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