Case Details

10 neglected dogs seized from breeder, 1 dead
Clinton, CT (US)

Date: Jan 6, 2006
Disposition: Alleged

Alleged: Marion Lent

Case Updates: 1 update(s) available

Case ID: 6917
Classification: Neglect / Abandonment
Animal: dog (non pit-bull)
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A Rottweiler breeder has been charged with cruelty to animals, and 10 of the purebred animals were taken into police custody after a dead dog was found in her bedroom, police said on January 9, 2006. The dead Rottweiler found in Marion Lent�s rented room was described by Animal Control Officer Donna Cavanaugh as "skin and bones," and her 10 other Rottweilers were malnourished, Cavanaugh said. A former resident of Winchester in northwestern Connecticut, Lent, 35, moved to Clinton in November, renting a room in a large house at 107 Long Hill Road, Cavanaugh said.

Lent, apparently active in dog shows and known within the state Rottweiler-owner community, lists herself on canine-related Web sites as a Rottweiler breeder, as SanMar kennels. But Cavanaugh said the living conditions Lent provided her dogs in Clinton were "disgusting." In a visit to the Long Hill Road property after receiving an anonymous telephone call about Lent early last week, Cavanaugh said she found five of the massive dogs confined in plastic crates used for transporting dogs. Each crate was filled with feces and urine. Lent explained the dogs were kept in crates because "she was trying to get her kennels up" in the large yard, Cavanaugh said. "She said her kennels were in storage," Cavanaugh said.

After ordering Lent to clean up, Cavanaugh said the dogs� living conditions were "pretty clean" in a visit January 11, 2006. But on January 6, 2006, Lent�s landlord � who wasn�t identified by police � reported a dead dog in Lent�s bedroom, Cavanaugh said. "He said she�d brought the dog inside so I couldn�t see it" on the previous visit, Cavanaugh said. Cavanaugh said she found the dead dog, and four, 5-month-old Rottweiler puppies in one crate. "It was full of feces," she said. "And there was no food or water for them ... It was deplorable to leave them in their own feces and urine, and the pups in one crate couldn�t even move."

The deceased dog was taken January 9, 2006 to the University of Connecticut for a necropsy to determine the cause of death. The landlord, Cavanaugh said, apparently was unaware that Lent owned as many dogs as she did. Lent, who could not be reached for comment on the police allegations, has been charged with 11 counts of cruelty to animals and six counts of keeping unlicensed dogs, and was released on a promise to appear in court Jan. 17, 2006, police said.

The surviving dogs, seized by police for their safe-keeping and as evidence, were examined at the Clinton Veterinary Hospital. "They were brought in the way they were found, in crates full of excrement and urine," Dr. Melissa de Brok said. In examining the dogs, de Brok said, "None of them required urgent care, but they were underweight and unkempt." The six surviving adult dogs are being kept at the town animal pound, and the four puppies at the Essex pound, Cavanaugh said.

Case Updates

Their once soft fur was caked with feces and urine while they stood motionless, unable to move in the tiny dog crate. �It is the worst case of animal cruelty I have seen,� said Clinton's municipal animal control officer Donna Cavanaugh.

Four Rottweiler puppies, along with seven adult dogs of the same breed, were taken from the rented 107 Long Hill Road room of breeder Marion Lent. The four puppies were crammed into a too-small crate, unable to move, locked in with their own waste with no food or water. A deceased adult Rottweiler, who Cavanaugh described as �just skin and bones� was removed from the property and sent to the University of Connecticut's animal laboratory for a necropsy (similar to an autopsy) for cause of death.

The alleged abuser, Marion Lent, 35, formerly of 109 Vons Lane in Winchester, is charged with 11 counts of cruelty to an animal and six counts of having unlicensed dogs. She is free on a promise to appear in court. Her court date was scheduled for Jan. 17, 2006.
Lent, who recently moved to Clinton, is mentioned on several Internet sites as a breeder and owner of championship dogs with a company called SanMar Rottweilers. She is noted as the former secretary of the American Rottweiler Club in 2004.

Two weeks ago, Cavanaugh received an anonymous tip that some alleged dog abuse was taking place at the Long Hill address. �I went to the property and spoke to Marion Lent and viewed the circumstances, which were not up to expectations,� said Cavanaugh. �At the time, she had let the puppies outside, so they were not in the small crate. She told me that since she had just moved, she needed to get her large kennels out of storage and set them up. I gave her a time limit to get things in order and told her I would return.� Cavanaugh did return and witnessed some improvements. But on the next day, the landlord of the property called Cavanaugh to report that one of the dogs was dead. "When I returned, I saw the dead dog in the woman's bedroom,� said Cavanaugh. �I also saw four five-month-old puppies in one small crate unable to move, and sitting and standing in their own feces. It was unbearable conditions.�

Cavanaugh, with help from the Clinton Police Department, removed all of the dogs and brought them to Clinton Veterinary Hospital of 99 Old Post Road, where they were bathed and treated. All of the dogs will be fine, noted Cavanaugh. �I have never encountered a situation like this involving a breeder or someone who shows dogs,� said Cavanaugh. �Thankfully, we received a call and were able to intervene,� said Clinton Chief of Police Joseph Faughnan. �Who knows what would have happened to those dogs if we had not received that call.�

Chief Faughnan said that the condition of the dogs was so unhealthy that the clothing of the officers who responded to the scene had to be sent out for immediate cleaning. �Normally we find this type of situation with cats, and certainly not a hotel full of dogs,� said Faughnan. �Because of the contaminants, uniforms of the responding officers had to be sent out to be cleaned. Officer Cavanaugh's coat may have to be thrown out for good.�

Faughnan also noted that the town of Clinton might bring civil action against Lent to pay for all of the services encountered with the rescue of the dogs and puppies. �The citizens of Clinton shouldn't have to be responsible for the acts of this person,� said Faughnan.
Money has been spent on veterinarian fees, feeding, housing, and the fees from the University of Connecticut, to name a few.

The good news, according to Cavanaugh, is that the puppies, who are being housed at the Essex Animal Shelter and Dog Pound, are doing �very well and getting back to a normal weight.� The adult dogs are regaining their weight and are also doing well. Joe Heller of Animal Control in Essex, along with Bob Jenkins of Deep River and Chester Animal Control, are overseeing their care. Both men wished to mention Lynn at Pet's Choice in Deep River who, on her own dime, brought the puppies in to bathe and groom them and gave them all new collars.
�We have received more than 100 calls from people interested in adopting the dogs, some coming from as far as Pennsylvania,� said Cavanaugh. Cavanaugh noted that potential adoptions must wait until after the court date, to see if the court decides to grant custody of the dogs back to their owner, or not. �If the court decides not to give the dogs back to Lent, then they will be available for adoption,� she said.

According to the police, Lent has vacated the Long Hill Road rental. The Harbor News could not reach Lent for comment.
Source: Shore Publishing - January 19, 2006
Update posted on Jan 19, 2006 - 11:42AM 

References

New Haven Register - January 10, 2006
WTNH - Jan 10, 2006

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