Two people accused of keeping more than 30 animals in ‘deplorable conditions' in CT home

Yahoo

19-04-2025

Two people collectively face more than 70 counts of animal cruelty after authorities found about three dozen animals living in deplorable conditions in a home in Sterling where multiple dead animals were also found.
Nicole Desnoyers, 22, was arrested Wednesday when troopers responded to a residence in Sterling around 5:18 p.m. and found that she had a warrant out for her arrest, according to Connecticut State Police. About two hours later, 56-year-old Kelly Desnoyers turned herself in, state police said.
Kelly Desnoyers faces 35 counts of cruelty to animals. Nicole Desnoyers has been charged with 40 counts of cruelty to animals.
According to the arrest warrant affidavit, the investigation was conducted by the Northeastern Connecticut Council of Governments Animal Control (NECCOG) and began on Feb. 13 when an animal control officer received a complaint about a possible animal hoarding situation at a 1,556 square-foot home where there were reportedly more than 20 animals. Authorities went to the home later in the day and claimed that they could smell urine and ammonia at the front walkway, the warrant affidavit said.
Garbage and what appeared to be dog feces could be seen on the front steps, the warrant affidavit said. Several dogs could be allegedly heard whimpering in the home. Authorities did not make contact with anyone inside.
The next day, animal control officers returned to the home and knocked on the door, but no one answered, authorities said. Five days later, officers returned once again and could not make contact with anyone inside.
Later in the day, animal control received a call from Kelly Desnoyers who allegedly began 'belligerently screaming' that animal control officers were harassing her and that she had video footage of them trespassing on her property, the warrant affidavit said. She reportedly did not let the other person on the line speak and said officers could not come on her property for a check of the animals, according to the warrant affidavit.
Authorities said they later learned that there were no licensed dogs at the home and they obtained a search warrant for the home on March 4. The warrant was carried out the next day when several animal control officers and troopers seized six kittens, two guinea pigs, five rats, a goat, a pony, 14 dogs, a bearded dragon, a chicken, one rooster, two potbellied pigs, three cats and a squirrel, the warrant affidavit said. According to authorities, two dead guinea pigs were also found.
Inside the home, which was described as 'not livable,' authorities allegedly found feces and debris 'all over,' the warrant affidavit said. There was also allegedly no visible food or water available to the animals, authorities wrote.
According to the warrant affidavit, the dogs were allegedly kept in crates stacked with three to four on top of one another. They reportedly suffered from urine scalding and skin irritation from being in their own waste, the warrant affidavit said. One of the dogs, a German shepherd mixed breed, reportedly had a large open lesion on his back right leg which made it difficult to walk.
Authorities reported finding dead guinea pigs and cats in an uncovered litter box in the freezer, the warrant affidavit said. Flies were all over the home, and the debris on the ground made it hard to walk.
According to the warrant affidavit, the urine smell was allegedly so bad that it burned the noses and throats of the officers.
During the investigation, officials learned that Nicole Desnoyers also lived at the home, the warrant affidavit said. Some of the animals belonged to Nicole Desnoyers, while others belonged to Kelly Desnoyers, officials said. Authorities said it was difficult to determine the ownership of the animals because they did not have proper veterinarian records. Nicole Desnoyers made a claim to several of the dogs.
All of the animals were removed from the home by authorities.
According to the warrant affidavit, the goat appeared to have arthritis in both of her front knees and had flaky and scaly skin. Her hooves were reportedly overgrown.
The mini pony reportedly had teeth protruding at its cheeks and appeared to have a hard time eating hay, the warrant affidavit said.
The dogs that were seized were all found to have fleas and skin irritation, according to the warrant affidavit. The kittens were found to be infested with fleas.
State police said Nicole Desnoyers and Kelly Desnoyers were each released on a $20,000 bond and are expected to appear in Danielson Superior Court on April 30.