Two Dozen Cruelty To Animals Charges Filed Against Oxford Homeowner: State Police

OXFORD, CT — A lengthy investigation into allegations of animal cruelty against an Oxford resident resulted in execution of a search warrant and his subsequent arrest at his home Tuesday morning.

John Artese, 59, was charged with 24 counts of cruelty to animals, and was released on a $5,000 bond. He is slated to appear June 30 in Derby Superior Court, state police said.

According to Connecticut judicial records, on March 5 of this year, Artese was charged with a single count of cruelty to animals, a Class A misdemeanor, and cited with 31 infractions for failure to comply with dog ownership requirements and 20 infractions for his dogs not having rabies vaccinations.

An investigation by state police has been ongoing, and culminated around 10:18 a.m. Tuesday, when personnel from the Oxford Resident Trooper’s Office, along with state and local animal control officers, executed a search warrant at Artese's home on Little Punkup Road. Two dozen dogs "were found in deplorable conditions, seized, and transported to local veterinary clinics for medical treatment," state police said.