Watertown Woman Accused Of Animal Cruelty In Pet Neglect Case: PD

WATERTOWN, CT — A local resident is accused of not properly caring for animals at her Cherry Avenue home, including dogs, a cat and a lizard.

On Thursday, police announced they recently charged Sandra Leary, 65, of 117 Cherry Ave., with five counts of cruelty to animals.

Leary was arrested Aug. 15, and she is due to appear in Superior Court in Waterbury on Aug. 26. She is free on a $5,000 bond. As a condition of her release, she is not allowed to have or supervise animals, police said.

The police department’s Animal Control Division has been doing animal welfare checks at Leary’s home for three years, according to police.

Police said Leary has four dogs, one cat, and a lizard. Animal control officers have been working with Leary to make sure the animals are getting proper care and veterinary attention. On July 10, during an animal welfare check, animal control determined that living conditions at the house had “deteriorated considerably,” according to police.

“All of the animals were in various need of urgent veterinary care,” police said.

On July 10, police seized the animals, which are now in the custody of Watertown Animal Control. The animals have received veterinary care, and they will remain with the town pending legal proceedings, according to police.