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Filth, Feces, Freezers: 35+ Animals Found In Squalid Sterling Home In Cruelty Case
More than 20 dogs, a goat, a mini horse, and other malnourished animals were rescued from a filthy Connecticut home, authorities said.
Kelly Desnoyers, 56, was charged with 35 counts of animal cruelty. Nicole Desnoyers, 22, also of Sterling, faces 40 counts, according to the Connecticut State Police.
Police responded on Feb. 13 after a concerned resident requested a welfare check, believing the Desnoyers were hoarding animals. When troopers arrived, they could see and hear numerous dogs inside the house, whimpering and yelping in distress, police said.
As they approached, the overwhelming …
Officer Otto Cruz, York County's Humane Hero, Dies At 47; SPCA Closes To Mourn
A beloved protector of animals and voice for the voiceless has died. Humane Society Police Officer Otoniel “Otto” Cruz passed away on Saturday, April 12, the York County SPCA announced.
The shelter closed to the public on Monday, April 15 and Tuesday, April 16, as staff mourned the loss of their cherished colleague.
Otto Cruz, 47, of York, was more than an officer—he was a bridge-builder, an advocate, and a father. Originally from Bayamón, Puerto Rico, Cruz became a police officer at just 18 years old. He served for a decade before relocating to Pennsylvania, where he continued his mission …
2 Neglected Dogs Found Abandoned In Carmel Parking Lots: Woman, 55, Charged, SPCA Says
A 55-year-old woman is facing animal cruelty and abandonment charges after two severely neglected dogs were found separately in Putnam County parking lots earlier this week, authorities said.
The investigation began on Tuesday evening, April 8, around 8:54 p.m., when authorities were called to the parking lot of Saint James the Apostle Church in Carmel. There, good Samaritans discovered a severely emaciated male pit bull mix wandering alone, the Putnam SPCA announced on Saturday, April 12.
The dog, later identified as “Milo,” was immediately rushed to Guardian Veterinary Specialists f…
Killingly Man Strangled Cat, Stabbed Woman In Neck Amid ‘Downward Spiral': Police
A Connecticut man in a "downward spiral" allegedly strangled a cat to death and attacked a woman with a knife, authorities said.
Mackenzie Anderson, 26, of Killingly, was arrested Thursday, April 3, and charged with malicious killing of an animal, disorderly conduct, assault with a weapon, and unlawful restraint, Connecticut State Police said.
Troopers responded to a Killingly home on Saturday, March 29, after a woman reported that Anderson had attacked her. He denies the claims, police said.
A neighbor called 911 after the woman banged on their door around 7 a.m., pleading for help.
The …
Brutal Dog Killing: Man Grabbed Pet By Neck, Threw It Into Street In Greenburgh, DA Says
A man has been indicted for the violent killing of a small Shih Tzu dog in a shocking act of animal cruelty that took place in Westchester in late 2024, prosecutors announced.
Valhalla resident Cory Eulin, 41, was arraigned in Westchester County Court on Tuesday, April 1, on charges stemming from the Dec. 19, 2024, incident, which happened in Greenburgh, the Westchester County District Attorney's Office announced on Thursday, April 3.
According to District Attorney Susan Cacace, around 3:45 p.m. on the day of the incident, Eulin allegedly grabbed the small dog by the neck …
Record-Breaking 190 Dogs Seized From Ex-NY Giant Previously Convicted Of Dogfighting: DOJ
A former New York Giant faces dogfighting charges after authorities seized what they called the largest amount of dogs taken from a single person in a federal case.
A grand jury indicted LeShon Johnson of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, on charges related to animal fighting and trafficking, the Department of Justice said in a news release on Tuesday, Mar. 25.
Johnson, 54, was charged with possessing 190 pit bull-type dogs for use in an animal fighting venture, along with selling, transporting, and delivering a dog for use in an animal fighting venture.
"Dogfighting is a cruel, bloo…
Animal Cruelty Case: Dog Found In Peekskill Had 'Life Of Starvation, Negligence', DA Says
New details have emerged in the shocking animal cruelty case against a 33-year-old Westchester woman accused of neglecting three severely malnourished dogs, according to prosecutors.
Peekskill resident Shannon Deleg, 33, is now officially charged with three counts of animal cruelty after three young dogs were found emaciated in her apartment, the Westchester County DA’s Office announced on Wednesday, March 19.
Authorities say Deleg owned three Terrier mix dogs—“Red,” “Giru,” and “Luna”—who were found emaciated and covered in filth inside her Peekskill apartment, as Daily Voice p…
2nd Person Arrested In Winchester Animal Cruelty Case Where Police Seized 27 Dogs
A 28-year-old Connecticut man turned him in to police on Wednesday, March 19, a day after a woman was arrested for allegedly abusing more than two dozen dogs, authorities said.
David Reid, of Winstead, was charged with animal cruelty and was being held on a $75,000 bond, Winchester police said.
Sarah Smolak, 28, of Winsted, was charged Tuesday with two counts of animal cruelty and was being held on a $150,000 bond, Winchester Police reported.
Court records show that the two were allegedly taking in dogs and claiming they would care for them. But when police investigated, they f…
Dog Left In Soaked Box Outside Pet Care Facility In Middletown: Suspects At Large
The search is on for whoever left a severely neglected dog overnight in the trash and recycling area of an Orange County veterinary office, left to suffer in the cold, wind, and rain before staff discovered him the next morning.
The dog, now named Olaf, was found on Monday morning, March 17, 2025, after enduring a freezing night outside near the garbage bins of Quality Pet Care, LLC in Middletown, the staff announced in a Facebook post.
Security footage is being reviewed, and the Town of Wallkill Police Department is actively investigating to identify those responsible for…
Winchester Police Seize 24 Dogs From Home, Charge Woman With Animal Cruelty
A Connecticut woman has been arrested and charged with animal cruelty after police rescued 24 dogs from her home this week, authorities said.
Sarah Smolak, 28, of Winsted, was charged Tuesday, March 18, with two counts of animal cruelty and is being held on a $150,000 bond, Winchester Police reported.
Officers responded to her Strong Terrace home in Winchester around 6:30 a.m. Tuesday after an investigation by the Town of Harwinton Regional Animal Control Department and Connecticut's Department of Agriculture animal control officers, police said.
The dogs that were seized are receiving car…
3 Dogs Found Starving In Apartment: Mom Gets Animal Cruelty Charge In Peekskill, SPCA Says
A Westchester mother is facing animal cruelty charges after investigators found three emaciated dogs suffering in squalid conditions in her apartment, authorities said.
Shannon Deleg, 33, of Peekskill, was arrested by SPCA Westchester’s Humane Law Enforcement Unit and charged with three counts of animal cruelty, the agency announced on Thursday, March 6.
The investigation began after a tip to the SPCA’s confidential animal cruelty hotline led officers to Deleg’s apartment. Inside, they discovered a severely malnourished pit bull, now named Gracie, curled up in a ball with her ribs and spine…
Beaver Blinded After Shot 14 Times Rescued From Susquehanna River
A severely injured beaver found weak, blind, and clinging to life in the Susquehanna River has captured the heart of the community, raising more than $5,000 in just 48 hours for his medical care, wildlife officials announced on Monday, Feb. 24.
Rescued near Marietta, Lancaster County, on Jan. 24, the beaver was so frail that rescuers barely had to restrain him. But when veterinarians at Companion Animal Hospital examined him, they discovered the horrifying reason why—he had been shot 14 times in the face.
BB-sized pellets were lodged in his skull and sinuses, shattering his left eye and lea…
68 Cats Euthanized, Brick Man Pleads Guilty To Animal Cruelty: Prosecutor
A Brick man who kept more than 150 cats in his residence pleaded guilty to animal cruelty on Monday, Feb. 24, authorities said.
Jeffrey Finlay is expected to be sentenced to six months in jail per the terms of his plea agreement, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said.
On Thursday, May 4, 2023, Finlay called police to his home on Mantoloking Road, asking them to help remove an excessive number of animals from his residence, Billhimer said. Officers discovered approximately 157 cats and 3 dogs living at the residence, Billhimer said.
Over a day, the animals were remo…
