Woman Charged For Death Of Dogs In Fairfield: Police

FAIRFIELD, CT — The former president of a local rescue group has been arrested in connection to the death of five dogs in Fairfield. Heidi E. Lueders, 31, of New Canaan, turned herself in at Fairfield Police Headquarters on Tuesday, Jan. 15, Capt. Robert Kalamaras announced on Wednesday morning. Police secured an arrest warrant for Lueders in late November after officers found the remains of several animal carcasses, which were believed to be dogs, in crates inside a home on Prince Street in Fairfield on Nov. 14.

After seeing the news reports of the animal cruelty case, the members and volunteers of Bully Breed Rescue, Inc. recognized the Prince Street address and "immediately began cooperating with local police and detectives," according to a statement by Bully Breed Rescue Vice President Chris Antolini on the group's website soon after the incident. The group confirmed that “all five dogs on Prince Street were dogs of Bully Breed Rescue, Inc. under the care of President Heidi Lueders.

"Over the last 7 months, Ms. Lueders had previously communicated to members and volunteers that she had sent four of these dogs to a sanctuary and the fifth dog was in a foster which she was monitoring. None of these dogs were known to be within the residence of Prince Street,” Antolini said in the statement on the website.

Lueders, formerly of Prince Street in Fairfield, now resides in New Canaan, according to police. Lueders was charged with five counts of cruelty to animals and first-degree criminal damage to landlord’s property by a tenant. She was released after posting a $50,000 court set bond. Lueders is scheduled to appear in Bridgeport Superior court on Jan. 29.

Pictured: Heidi E. Lueders, 31, of New Canaan / Fairfield Police Department