224 Neglected Animals Found in Weston Man's Home Leads to Animal Cruelty Charge

WESTON — A Weston accused of animal cruelty turned himself in to police on Tuesday after learning there was a warrant for his arrest on animal cruelty charges, according to The Hour. Patch reported in September police discovered hundreds of animals both alive and dead in a Weston home after neighbors reported a foul smell coming from the home which Weston Animal Control said was one of the worst cases of animal cruelty that they’ve ever seen.

Daniel Kopulos' home was full of exotic birds, snakes, reptiles and more, the report. The Weston Police Department, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and the Department of Agriculture is investigating the case.

The Connecticut government website states that animal cruelty is a criminal act and judges sentence the same as they do with other criminal acts not carrying mandatory minimum sentences, including the discretion to sentence an offender to probation or grant him or her conditional discharge.

The law allows animal control officers to seize any neglected or cruelly treated animal and pending the outcome of the hearing, the court can order the animal temporarily placed with an appropriate agency or person. Fines range from $50-10,000 depending on the offense.

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