Connecticut State Police announced that a Woodstock woman, Tracy Donovan, 59, was charged Wednesday with 103 counts of Animal Cruelty.
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Donovan was wanted by warrant and was located at the Northeastern CT Council of Governments (NECCOG) Animal Shelter in Killingly where she was taken into custody
According to the arrest warrant, back on January 26, 2024, the shelter received a complaint regarding a residence in Woodstock that came to light after an appraiser went to the house.
The complaint said, "I honestly don't know if this house could be redone or if it would be cheaper to start with the foundation. It would have to be stripped down to the floor joists because the subfloor is worn from all the animals. The smell is the main thing I would be worried about. The smell was so bad I stripped off all my clothes in my garage and took a shower."
Photos depicted piles of trash and construction material outside and about 20 dog cages and crates containing small dogs inside. The interior of the house had wood shavings scattered, animal feces and a large amount of household garbage. Dogs in the photos did not appear to have access to water or food and were confined to small dirty crates and cages. Individual rooms in the house appeared to be unlivable. Dogs pictured were roaming the residence without access to food or water, and appeared to be dirty and underweight.
Then, on June 22 the CT Dept of Agriculture State Animal Control Office received a complaint from a concerned citizen about the welfare of the dogs, saying that the owner of the residence was offering dirty, skinny dogs and puppies for sale, and identified the owner of the property as Ms Donovan.
A CT Dept of Agriculture animal control officer and the director of NECCOG conducted a welfare check of the animals and encountered the extreme odor of urine and feces from as far as 50 ft from the house. They spotted large piles of construction material and household garbage around the house, in addition to crates, cages and fencing material, and numerous mobile campers and outbuildings containing household garbage.
In the rear of the house there were two goats in a small shed among three inches of wet goat feces and shavings. The goats, who appeared to be thin and lethargic, had no food or water. Two small water bowls were dry and caked with dirt.
Further, the arrest warrant noted that upon knocking on the front door about 20-30 dogs began to "bark and vocalize" for several minutes, with some of the dogs sounding in distress. High pitched barking, loud yelping and whimpering were heard from the dogs in the house. Numerous dogs could be heard running and jumping around the house at the door and windows. Though most of the exterior windows were covered, through a side window officials spotted small dogs in cages and crates and loose dogs running about and no food or water was in sight. The dogs observed appeared underweight and extremely dirty and matted.
They also heard what sounded like exotic birds.
On July 9th a search and seizure and seizure warrant was approved. During execution of the search warrant the interior of the residence was described as in "deplorable condition."
"The stench of feces, urine and ammonia were found to be overwhelming to the officers..." Officials noted that none of the animals had access to water, food or wholesome air.
Immediately upon entering the home, four dogs were found suffering from severe medical conditions and were unresponsive and unable to move or stand. After being brought to a veterinary hospital, due to the severe medical conditions veterinarians determined it immediately medically necessary to euthanize all four dogs to prevent continued obvious suffering due to chronic disease and neglect.
In all, 103 live animals were removed from the house including: 96 dogs, 2 cats, 2 exotic birds, 1 wild rabbit and two goats.
The warrant noted that for several days following the seizure of the animals, the veterinary hospital examined them and determined that all 96 dogs were suffering from a number of health issues including dehydration, severe matting, flea anemia, severe dental disease, skin infection and long nails. All of the dogs were covered with dried urine and feces. The exotic birds were suffering from dehydration, skin infection loss of feather and beak issues. The cats had severe matting of fur, feces and urine in the fur and long nails, extreme flea anemia and upper respiratory illness.
As for the goats, they were also found to be dehydrated and anemic.
The warrant said the majority of significant health issues were determined to be from a lack of previous veterinary care, significant neglect and lack of access to food, water and wholesome air.
In addition to $150,000 bond, the warrant notes a non-financial condition of release was, "Do no possess animals of any kind."
Donovan was assigned a date in court in Danielson on Thursday, Aug 22.
Donovan was wanted by warrant and was located at the Northeastern CT Council of Governments (NECCOG) Animal Shelter in Killingly where she was taken into custody
According to the arrest warrant, back on January 26, 2024, the shelter received a complaint regarding a residence in Woodstock that came to light after an appraiser went to the house.
The complaint said, "I honestly don't know if this house could be redone or if it would be cheaper to start with the foundation. It would have to be stripped down to the floor joists because the subfloor is worn from all the animals. The smell is the main thing I would be worried about. The smell was so bad I stripped off all my clothes in my garage and took a shower."
Photos depicted piles of trash and construction material outside and about 20 dog cages and crates containing small dogs inside. The interior of the house had wood shavings scattered, animal feces and a large amount of household garbage. Dogs in the photos did not appear to have access to water or food and were confined to small dirty crates and cages. Individual rooms in the house appeared to be unlivable. Dogs pictured were roaming the residence without access to food or water, and appeared to be dirty and underweight.
Then, on June 22 the CT Dept of Agriculture State Animal Control Office received a complaint from a concerned citizen about the welfare of the dogs, saying that the owner of the residence was offering dirty, skinny dogs and puppies for sale, and identified the owner of the property as Ms Donovan.
A CT Dept of Agriculture animal control officer and the director of NECCOG conducted a welfare check of the animals and encountered the extreme odor of urine and feces from as far as 50 ft from the house. They spotted large piles of construction material and household garbage around the house, in addition to crates, cages and fencing material, and numerous mobile campers and outbuildings containing household garbage.
In the rear of the house there were two goats in a small shed among three inches of wet goat feces and shavings. The goats, who appeared to be thin and lethargic, had no food or water. Two small water bowls were dry and caked with dirt.
Further, the arrest warrant noted that upon knocking on the front door about 20-30 dogs began to "bark and vocalize" for several minutes, with some of the dogs sounding in distress. High pitched barking, loud yelping and whimpering were heard from the dogs in the house. Numerous dogs could be heard running and jumping around the house at the door and windows. Though most of the exterior windows were covered, through a side window officials spotted small dogs in cages and crates and loose dogs running about and no food or water was in sight. The dogs observed appeared underweight and extremely dirty and matted.
They also heard what sounded like exotic birds.
On July 9th a search and seizure and seizure warrant was approved. During execution of the search warrant the interior of the residence was described as in "deplorable condition."
"The stench of feces, urine and ammonia were found to be overwhelming to the officers..." Officials noted that none of the animals had access to water, food or wholesome air.
Immediately upon entering the home, four dogs were found suffering from severe medical conditions and were unresponsive and unable to move or stand. After being brought to a veterinary hospital, due to the severe medical conditions veterinarians determined it immediately medically necessary to euthanize all four dogs to prevent continued obvious suffering due to chronic disease and neglect.
In all, 103 live animals were removed from the house including: 96 dogs, 2 cats, 2 exotic birds, 1 wild rabbit and two goats.
The warrant noted that for several days following the seizure of the animals, the veterinary hospital examined them and determined that all 96 dogs were suffering from a number of health issues including dehydration, severe matting, flea anemia, severe dental disease, skin infection and long nails. All of the dogs were covered with dried urine and feces. The exotic birds were suffering from dehydration, skin infection loss of feather and beak issues. The cats had severe matting of fur, feces and urine in the fur and long nails, extreme flea anemia and upper respiratory illness.
As for the goats, they were also found to be dehydrated and anemic.
The warrant said the majority of significant health issues were determined to be from a lack of previous veterinary care, significant neglect and lack of access to food, water and wholesome air.
In addition to $150,000 bond, the warrant notes a non-financial condition of release was, "Do no possess animals of any kind."
Donovan was assigned a date in court in Danielson on Thursday, Aug 22.