Press Releases
02/14/2020
State Secures Custody of Neglected Animals Seized from Suffield Farm
(Hartford, CT) –This morning in Hartford Superior Court, the State secured custody of nearly 200 severely neglected animals seized from a Suffield farm last month.
“We succeeded today in securing state custody of all animals seized in this horrible case. No animal should ever suffer as these animals did. The animals were severely malnourished, dehydrated and diseased, and there was no way the owner was going to be able to provide the intensive care and rehabilitation that is required,” said Attorney General William Tong.
“With this settled, we are now assured that the livestock and dogs will continue to receive the proper care that they deserve,” said Agriculture Commissioner Bryan P. Hurlburt.
Following an investigation, the CT Department of Agriculture Animal Control Unit, Suffield Police and Animal Control coordinated an operation that resulted in 18 cattle, 137 chickens, 33 ducks and six Great Pyrenees dogs seized from a farm leased by Rachel Kornstein of Manchester. The animals were emaciated, severely dehydrated, and suffering from untreated wounds and infections. Local officials were alerted to the situation by a veterinarian called to assist in the birth of a calf. The calf's mother was so malnourished she could not produce milk or move and died soon after giving birth. The conditions at the site also included evidence of several dead and decaying chickens. All the animals showed signed of severe neglect.
On behalf of the Department of Agriculture, Attorney General Tong moved for permanent state custody of the animals. On Friday, Kornstein agreed to relinquish custody of all animals.
Most of the animals are currently at the Department of Agriculture Large Animal Rehabilitation Facility in Niantic.
Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Harding and Assistant Attorney General Matt Levine, Head of the Environment Department, assisted the Attorney General in this matter.
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Media Contact:
Elizabeth Benton
elizabeth.benton@ct.gov
860-808-5324 (office)
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