A Connecticut woman is facing dozens of charges of animal cruelty after more than 100 animals were found living in deplorable conditions in her home.
Tracy Donovan, 59, was arrested Wednesday at her home in Woodstock, according to Connecticut State Police.
The case stems from a tip sent to the Northeastern Connecticut Council of Governments’ animal services from a property appraiser who visited the home in January and found the floors worn down from all the animals and a pungent odor that stuck to her clothes.
The tipster also sent photos of the conditions, which included piles of trash, animal waste and dogs in cages and crates.
In June, the Connecticut Department of Agriculture received a report that Donovan was selling “dirty and skinny dogs and puppies” out of the house and subsequently made a welfare check.
The animal control officer who visited the home found dozens of dogs in cages, barking and whimpering in distress, as well as two goats standing in their own feces in a shed. None of the animals appeared to have access to food, water or fresh air, according to the arrest warrant.
In July, four older dogs were removed from the house and needed to be euthanized because they were too far gone from neglect and chronic disease.
A total of 103 animals were removed from the home: 96 dogs, two cats, two exotic birds, a wild rabbit and the two goats.
All of the dogs were found to be suffering from flea anemia and severe dental disease, while all of the animals were suffering from dehydration, skin infections and fur/feather issues.
It’s unclear why a month passed between the animals being seized and Donovan’s arrest.
Donovan’s bond was set at $150,000 and she has been ordered not to possess any animals.
