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- Connecticut, USA -

 

On the late evening of April 16, 2024, Wolcott Police Department Dispatch called Animal Control Officer Roz Nenninger to advise that someone reported they had found a dog in the area of 695 Spindle Hill Road.

 

ACO Nenninger responded to the area and met with the caller who had remained on the scene with the dog.

 

The dog, a female Pitbull who had no collar, “was a recent mother as her mammary glands were hanging down”, stated the report obtained by Voice For Us.

 

ACO Nenninger reported that the mama dog was very friendly but anxious and also seemed to be in distress. She also noted that the dog was “visibly full of milk, her mammary glands were very enlarged and when her nipples were squeezed, she was still producing milk.”

 

ACO Nenninger then took the mama dog to the Wolcott Animal Control Facility where staff checked her for a microchip but none was found.

 

After further examination, ACO Nenninger took pictures of the dog that were shared on the Facebook page of Wolcott Dog Pound in hopes of finding her guardian. The pictures were also widely shared on social media and the local news outlets also covered the story.

 

According to the report, when ACO Nenninger was in her office, she could hear the dog  “howling and crying in distress.” ACO Nenninger then took her outside for a walk but she was “pulling and searching, whining and crying.”

 

Two days later, on April 18, 2024, a man called ACO Nenninger and said that he became aware of the dog's story through social media and the local news. He identified the dog as Maya and was able to reveal who her guardian was and who dumped her. The man further stated that he had bought two of Maya's seven puppies from 27-year-old JOSE SOLIVAN (pictured).

 

ACO Nenninger asked the man how old the puppies were and he said that they were born on April 10, 2024. The man told ACO Nenninger that he was willing to bring the puppies back as they were too young to be away from their mom. When ACO Nenninger rightfully asked him why he bought puppies who were so young, he said he feared that if he didn’t, they would die. The man explained that SOLIVAN approached him on April 17, 2024, with three puppies but the man did not have enough money to buy all of them so he bought two for $100 each.

 

Later on the same day, SOLIVAN went to the Wolcott Police Department to provide a written statement of the events. SOLIVAN stated that he had had Maya since she was approximately three and a half months old. He said he got rid of her because Maya “wasn’t feeding the puppies.” He claimed that the puppies were crying and he did not know what to do. He went on to say that his “Boy”, who had a lot of experience with dogs told him Maya’s milk was poison. ACO Nenninger asked SOLIVAN why he did not take Maya to the vet. To that, SOLIVAN answered: “Naaa, my boy said he knows.” When he was asked to sign over custody of Maya to the Town of Wolcott, he said he had given Maya to another person and that person must have dumped her and they should sign. Eventually, he reluctantly agreed to sign.

 

SOLIVAN was asked how many puppies Maya had but he insisted she only had four. He then said Maya had five puppies but she ate one of them.

 

Meanwhile, Wolcott Dog Pound kept sharing pictures of Maya and her babies and through a Facebook post of April 20, 2024, they advised: “Keep SHARING !!!! One more puppy recovered this morning !!!!! 3 more to go !!!!!

 

According to a press release by the Wolcott Police Department obtained by Voice For Us,

On May 23, 2024, SOLIVAN turned himself into the Wolcott Police Department, after being notified that police held a warrant for him for the charges of Cruelty to Animals and False Statement with a $25,000 bond.

 

Wolcott Police Chief Edward Stephens said: “We are happy to report that we have recovered 5 of the 7 puppies, who are all doing very well.” He also explained that “Since the pups were sold prematurely in Waterbury, The Waterbury Police Dept. is also investigating Mr. Solivan, and an arrest based on their warrant is expected.”

 

SOLIVAN, you put Maya through hell just for a few bucks. If you need money, why don’t you sell yourself? Or here’s a crazy idea, get a job!!!!

You’ve had Maya since she was just a few months old and that’s your love for her? Abandoned on the side of the road as if she was trash?

You are too ignorant to understand the trauma of a nursing mother not being near her babies, and the fear and confusion of the poor puppies being separated from their mom.

Even a slow and painful death would be too generous for you!

 

# # #

 

Disclaimer: This story is sourced from official police reports provided to Voice For Us.

Please note that details may be removed or new information added should updates become available.

In the case of charges being dropped, dismissed, or the case being purged, this article will be rectified accordingly, if official documentation is provided to Voice For Us.

 

 

SOLIVAN’s mugshot provided to Voice For Us by the Wolcott Police Department

 

Pictures and videos shared from Wolcott Dog Pound.




 
 
 

- Connecticut, USA -


56-years-old THOMAS HUNT JR. (pictured), owner of a dog training and boarding facility, is due to appear in Superior Court in New Haven on August 12, 2022, to face animal cruelty charges that stemmed from an investigation which revealed, among other issues, that two Cane Corsos in his care, one male and one female, “mauled and killed” a Mini Schnauzer.


On June 6, 2022, HUNT, of Naugatuck, turned himself in and was charged with two counts of animal cruelty at his former Eagle K-9 Academy facility on 809 Carrington Road, Bethany.

The facility name has since been changed to Perfection with Affection K-9 Academy and it is listed at the same address.

Better Business Bureau lists HUNT JR. as the owner of Perfection with Affection K-9 Academy.


Investigators discovered that the two Cane Corsos, named Nova and Moose, had lost significant weight over several months while at HUNT’s facility with one described as “emaciated” in the warrant affidavit.


The condition of Nova and Moose was brought to the attention of Woodbridge Animal Control after HUNT reported by phone on April 8, 2022, that they had attacked the Mini Schnauzer. According to his version of the facts, an employee “failed to secure a latch.”


Nova and Moose were then brought to the Woodbridge Animal Control facility for quarantine and were found to be “extremely underweight”, reports Hartford Courant.


Moose, 4 years, 11 months, weighed 87.3 pounds, while veterinary paperwork showed that about two months earlier, he weighed 130 pounds.

Nova, 3 years and 9 months old, weighed 88.7 pounds. Records from two months earlier showed she weighed 98 pounds.


On April 12, 2022, Animal Control Officer Karen Lombardi along with state animal control officer Charles DellaRocco interviewed Nova and Moose’s guardian. He explained to the officers that he had dropped off his dogs in December 2021, because he was going through a divorce and needed a place for them while going through the difficult time. The man also said when he dropped off Nova and Moose, they were “in good health.”


After meeting with the furbabies’ guardian, Nova and Moose were taken to Animal Clinic of Milford to be examined. A veterinarian confirmed they were underweight, with Moose’s “spine and ribs” prominent on a visual exam.

When HUNT was questioned about the dogs, he told investigators that he was feeding them “six cups of food a day.”


In January 2022, a state inspection noted that the dogs’ rabies shots weren’t current. Reportedly, HUNT said: “I probably should have taken them to the vet.”


According to Hartford Courant, in the last year Eagle K-9 Academy received at least one warning from the state’s Department of Animal Control Unit following an inspection that showed safety and sanitation violations.

As reported by Hartford Courant, “Alleged violations have included: feces and urine in the runs and kennels, a puddle of urine in the lobby, no mechanical ventilation, inadequate drainage, old fencing with no top, extremely dirty fan and ceiling, lack of repairs that could cause injury, mouse feces near a kitchen sink. One report stated that five of nine dogs were not up to date with rabies shots and eight of nine didn’t have licenses.”


The news agency reached out to HUNT for comment but he reportedly said in a text: “I have been ordered to not comment.”


Hartford Courant also reached out to HUNT’s attorney, Sally Pruitt, but she did not return the agency’s calls for comment.


Voice For Us Disclaimer: This story is sourced from official news outlets. Links included.

Details may be removed or additional information may be provided in future should such sources report an update.




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