Officials from the state Department of Agriculture seized the animals, which included over 50 dogs, cats, rabbits, geese, chickens and goats, from the home of Delores Leffingwell, 51, of 34 Patty Lane. Most of the animals were suffering from dehydration or malnutrition, officials said.
Officials also removed three dead rabbits and three dead birds.
No criminal charges have been filed against Delores Leffingwell. The agriculture department will make that decision after an animal cruelty investigation is conducted.
First Selectman Doug Humes said he was aware that the agriculture department had removed the animals, but declined to comment about the case because of the pending investigation.
The pets, ranging from dogs and goats to geese and sugar gliders-tiny gliding opossums from Indonesia, New Guinea, New Zealand and Australia-were in bad shape. Many of the animals were dehydrated or malnourished, according to officials at the state Department of Agriculture, which investigates animal cruelty cases.
In addition to the dead rabbits, state officials found a dead dove and a dead hermit crab. Two goats were extremely thin, dehydrated and infested with lice. Bruce Sherman, the agriculture department's director of regulation and inspection, and Maureen Griffin, the supervisor of the agriculture department's animal control division, said they couldn't discuss further details of the case because it is still under investigation.
The animals, meanwhile, are being cared for by inmates at the Gates Correctional Institution in Niantic. The animals were moved to a rehabilitation facility at the prison that is co-financed by the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Corrections.
The state plans to file a civil suit soon to acquire ownership of the animals so they can be put up for adoption, Mr. Sherman said. A criminal case against Ms. Leffingwell may also be forthcoming, after the investigation concludes, unless the state can negotiate a punishment and treatment for Ms. Leffingwell out of court.
"What often happens is we get custody of the animals through the civil court, and if they are cooperative, the accused is granted rehabilitation and all the records are sealed, so we don't get into commentary about it," Ms. Griffin said Case UpdatesDolores Leffingwell, 51, of 34 Patty Lane, surrendered to state police at the Troop B barracks in North Canaan on Monday, police said. State animal enforcement officers reportedly seized 48 animals from her North Canaan home two weeks ago, alleging they were either neglected or dead.
The warrant was prepared by animal control officials from the Department of Agriculture, police said, and details the allegations brought against Leffingwell.
The woman was released from custody on $2,500 non-surety bond and is scheduled to appear in Bantam Superior Court on Dec. 13, police said.
Reports indicate the state is seeking ownership of the animals to facilitate their adoption after they complete treatment with veterinarians.
On Nov. 5, state animal control officers seized three cats, 22 dogs, a ferret, two sugar gliders, five geese, three chickens, two goats, four green conures, an African green parrot, an Indian ring-necked parakeet, a lovebird, two cockatiels and a hedgehog from the Patty Lane home.
According to Dr. Bruce Sherman, director of the Department of Agriculture Bureau of Inspection and Regulation, Leffingwell�s neighbors complained to the town�s animal control officer that Leffingwell had an excessive amount of animals on her property. The state officers who assisted in the seizure of the animals reported that when they went to the property there was no one home. They went inside the barn and through the open door and could see three deadrabbits. They immediately applied for a search warrant, said Sherman.
Besides the rabbits, a dove and a hermit crab were also found dead at the property, he said. The director said the goats, geese and chickens are being held at a state animal rescue facility in Niantic and the other animals are located at several municipal pounds. | Source: Register-Citizen - Dec 2, 2004
Update posted on Dec 3, 2004 - 9:09AM |
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