More than 70 pets were taken from a CT home. Animal experts say it’s an example of a growing problem

Chief Animal Control Officer Jessica Moffo has had a busy few days at Woodbridge Regional Animal Control .

As of Monday afternoon, more than 70 animals including cats, dogs, guinea pigs and rabbits had been rescued from a home in Woodbridge.

Moffo said she was going back in Monday evening to collect as many as 20 more cats at a home at Pleasant Hill Road in Woodbridge, as the total of animals could approach triple digits.

The leader of a statewide group, Desmond’s Army, that advocates for pets, said the case is an alleged example of a growing number of instances in Connecticut where animals are not cared for properly, are hoarded, or are abandoned.

Moffo declined to name the woman who owned the animals, which included more than 40 cats, adding that the woman was undergoing a mental evaluation at a local hospital.

Moffo said 22 counts of animal cruelty have been filed against her.

“She has a summons and a court date on Aug. 23,” Moffo said. “That’s in motion, and everything is still pending.”

Moffo said this has been the worst alleged hoarding situation she’s experienced in terms of grooming. She said she found many of the animals covered in urine and feces with layers of matted fur. As far as the condition of the house is concerned, Moffo said she has seen much worse.

Dozens of animals confiscated in CT town after resident tries to give up 14 dogs. ‘It’s a mess.’

This all started on Saturday morning when the pet owner allegedly tried to give up 14 dogs at a regional shelter. A total of 22 dogs, seven rabbits and a guinea pig were impounded that day as well, and the cat number continues to grow.

Moffo was contacted at 5 a.m. by the Woodbridge Police Department and the shelter was already at full capacity when the call came in.

The dogs have all been distributed to various shelters around the state since Saturday.

“The dogs are doing great,” Moffo said. “They’ve all been placed and I’m getting regular updates. Some are getting more medical care than others, but they are doing well. We had such an abundance of cats that we had to get the dogs out to different rescues.

“Not all of the cats are used to human contact, and some are feral,” Moffo added. “We have some kittens and some younger adults. We have 22 cats in my cat room now.”

Moffo said 35 Amazon boxes of donated food and supplies were waiting for her when she arrived at work on Monday morning.

“This has been absolutely amazing,” Moffo said. “Words can’t explain how everyone has stepped up.”

The animal control agency said it received help from numerous other agencies, including North Haven Animal Control, the East Haven Animal Shelter, Friends of the New Haven Animal Shelter, Halfway Home Rescue Inc. in Bridgeport, Connecticut Animal Control, Perfect Imperfections; One More Dog Rescue and Westley’s Wish K9 Rescue.

Desmond’s Army Animal Law Advocates group is also is sending a check to help the cause in Woodbridge.

Desmond’s Army president Robin “Zilla” Cannamela said her organization has been regularly in touch with Moffo about the situation in Woodbridge.

“This is a lot of animals and there are a lot of animals for overworked and overstressed animal control officers. They are already at maximum capacity everywhere and they are working their butts off on a day-to-day basis. To get this (alleged) hoarding case is horrific,” Cannamela said. “The fur is matted, and they need to be groomed and vetted. It’s overwhelming and the state doesn’t step in to help in any hoarding cases.”

Cannamela said there are one or two large hoarding cases throughout the state each month.

“The state is in crisis with the amount of animals being dumped and now these hoarding cases — it’s devastating,” Cannamela said. “It’s devastating to see so many animals abused, neglected and starved. It’s just heart wrenching.”

Cannamela said she would like to see people held accountable.

“The court systems aren’t doing their jobs to hold people accountable. Everyone gets a slap on the wrist. Or as I say, everyone gets a cookie and a pat on the back,” Cannamela said. “Hoarding is really a mental health issue and the hoarding and mental health issues both need to be addressed.”

On the bright side, Moffo added that a rabbit and three guinea pigs have been adopted from animal control in Woodbridge when people have stopped by to donate.

In addition to the hoarding incident, on Sunday night, Connecticut State Police Troop I contacted Woodbridge Regional Animal Control for a young male German shepherd found tied on the side of the Route 8 South near Exit 25 in Beacon Falls.

“I’m bathing him as we speak,” Moffo said during a phone interview Monday. “He has some issues, but we have some blood tests coming and we are waiting to see about those. He’s very skinny and underweight. We don’t know his backstory. He may have had some kind of heat stroke. But we picked him up and gave him a full checkup.”

Moffo said the 5-month-old dog had a road rash on one side of his body and had no internal bleeding or broken bones. She added that the trooper that found the dog is most likely going to adopt it.

If you are looking to adopt any of the animals, contact  Woodbridge Regional Animal Control at 203-389-5991.