Groton Animal Control To Seek Custody of Dogs Seized In Abuse Case

Groton Animal Control will ask a New London Superior Court judge on Thursday to grant the town custody of five dogs seized from a Mystic woman charged with animal cruelty.

“I’m going for custody so I can get these animals medically taken care of,” said Groton Animal Control Officer Donna Duso, who has been holding the dogs as evidence in the criminal case. “This is a beautiful facility, but it is a facility. And they deserve to be in homes.”

A female Schnauzer seized in the case has a uterine infection, possibly from being repeatedly bred, and needs to be spayed, Duso said.  The dog is on antibiotics, but Duso needs custody of the dog to authorize spaying it.

Two of the five animals seized– a male Maltese and a puppy believed to be a Shih Tzu-Cocker Spaniel mix – are on antibiotics for upper respiratory infections.  The Maltese also has two knee joints that dislocate when he walks. The male Shih Tzu has a broken tooth. The female Cocker Spaniel is doing well, Duso said. All need dental care.

Linda Snow, 59, who police said had been living under the name Mary Howard, was charged Feb. 17 with criminal impersonation, cruelty to animals and interfering with police. Police found five dogs in her home at 59 Oslo St. suffering from various stages of neglect.

Snow had previously been arrested for animal cruelty for operating a puppy mill in Massachusetts, and part of her probation was she was not to leave the state or sell any dogs, according to a report filed in New London Superior Court. There were eight warrants out for her arrest.

According to the website Pet-Abuse.com, she pleaded guilty in October 2008 in Norfolk Superior Court to seven counts of animal cruelty and one count of destruction of property.

The website said police had seized 90 dogs and puppies from a house in Randolph and “the basement was apparently used for breeding.” At least one mother with a litter of puppies was taken from the scene in an ambulance, the website said.

The Enterprise of Brockton, Mass., reported that Snow owned Missy's Puppy Land in Stoughton, Mass., a store that had previously been cited for various violations. The newspaper said the Massachusetts Bureau of Animal Health reported 35 customer complaints and issued 55 citations from 2003 until 2006, “including one instance of altering a health certificate.”

More than 30 people from Connecticut, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania have contacted Groton police saying they purchased animals within the last 12 months, police said.

One woman from New Jersey had put a deposit on the ginger-colored puppy and planned to pick up the dog up the day after the animals were seized, Duso said. She said the woman drove from New Jersey to Mystic, then was told by neighbors what had happened.

Duso said medical expenses for the dogs will cost thousands of dollars, and she is seeking donations. Anyone wishing to donate for animals’ care may contact her at (860) 441-6709.