14-05-2025
Vegan animal rights activists hit with new punishment after pit bull mauled woman, 95, to death
The owners of a dog who mauled a woman to death have been ordered to pay more than $76,000 in boarding fees amid a protracted legal battle over euthanizing the canine.
Vegan rights activists Neil and Annie Hornish have been fighting in court to keep their pit bull/pointer mix named Dexter alive for more than five years.
Dexter allegedly attacked and mauled 95-year-old Janet D'Aleo when the woman came to the couple's Suffield, Connecticut, home to visit Annie's mother on November 6, 2019, according to Inside Investigator.
D'Aleo died from her injuries and the the state medical examiner ruled that her death was caused by dog bites, reported CT Insider.
Dexter was immediately impounded and Suffield's animal control ordered that he be put down.
The Hornishes - animal rights activists and vegans for more than 20 years - appealed the ruling and have been battling it out in court to keep their dog alive.
However, in 2022 the couple stopped paying boarding to the facility where Dexter was being held and filed a lawsuit against the town and River Valley Animal Center over the costs.
The town countersued, seeking $76,215 in unpaid boarding fees plus a per diem amount of $66.36, equal to the Dexter's daily boarding fees, accruing since February 1.
On May 5, Superior Court Judge Claudia Baio ruled in favor of the town ordering them to cough up the fees with post-judgment interest at 7.5 percent per year.
'The court finds that the better and weightier evidence supports the counterclaim plaintiff's claim for damages, and hence, the counter claim plaintiff has met its burden of proof,' Baio said.
Without any interest, more than $6,000 in fees would have accrued since February 1, CT Insider found.
Annie told the local news outlet that they plan to appeal the judge's ruling that they must pay the fees.
She believes the town is charging them an astronomical rate to force their hand and it sets a bad precedent for others who want to try to fight to keep their pets alive.
Their visitation with Dexter was revoked in 2021 overs comments they allegedly made towards Suffield's Animal Control Officer Ryan Selig.
Suffield First Selectman Colin Moll issued a statement saying his was 'thrilled' with the ruling.
'The taxpayers of Suffield deserve to be made whole,' Moll said. 'We are one step closer to the conclusion of this long and unnecessary saga.'
The Hornishes have argued their dog's life should be sparred because he was provoked when D'Aleo's health care aide hitting him with a stool.
They have appealed their case up to the state appellate court, which has yet to make a ruling.
The Hornishes reached a $2 million settlement in a lawsuit filed against them by the D'Aleo's after the attack.
