Hamden woman charged with animal cruelty, police say
A Hamden woman was charged with five counts of animal cruelty stemming from an investigation into the condition of one of her dogs, according to a court document.
The court document stated that Lisa Levy had brought multiple dogs with injuries such as chemical burns and neurological problems to a North Haven veterinarian.
Two of the three dogs Levy had brought in had died, and another had been returned to the shelter. Documents said her current dog, a 10-year-old chihuahua mix named Chanco, was believed to have chemical burns, the court document said.
Levy’s boyfriend, Issak Cuenco, accompanied her when they initially brought Chanco to the vet. He said the couple had adopted Chanco and another dog as a bonded pair from Murphy’s Paw Rescue about six weeks earlier, according to the court document.
According to the court document, while Cuenco was away, he said Levy brought Chanco to a Wallingford veterinary hospital for a hacking cough. When Cuenco got back to their Hamden home, he said their three dogs seemed anxious around Levy.
On Jan. 27, Cuenco said that he tried to bathe Chanco in a tub with just water and noticed a “strong chemical smell.” Cuenco also said the tub “had issues,” Drano was used in it, and that their housemaid had cleaned it with bleach earlier, according to the court document.
When Cuenco went to dry Chanco off, he said his hair was coming off in chunks, and hours later, fur was missing from around his tail, hind legs, abdomen, sides, and chest, the document said.
On Jan. 28, the Wallingford veterinary hospital said Levy was trying to adopt another dog because she “didn’t think Chanco would make it.” When Levy was asked if Chanco had burns on his body and if she suspected her boyfriend, she said she “didn’t, but now I kinda do,” the document said. She said the burns only appeared when Cuenco was in town.
Levy had several other dogs and cats with similar issues to Chanco, including chemical burns, neurological issues, a cough, vomiting, seizures, fractures, collapsing, and not being able to walk.
The arrest warrant said that one of her dogs was returned to a shelter, four animals were euthanized, four died, and at least three are missing.
Hamden Police Animal Control Officer Barbara Godejohn ultimately decided that there is probable cause to issue a warrant for Levy. She was charged with five counts of cruelty to animals.
Levy’s bail is set at $15,000. Her next court date is March 6 in Meriden.
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