Woman Not Guilty Of Killing 5 Dogs In Fairfield Home, Judge Rules

FAIRFIELD, CT — Achilles, Buddha, Brooklyn, Gunner and Miko. These are the names of the five dogs whose bodies were found — as long as 10 months after they died — in cages at the Prince Street home of Heidi Lueders, who was found not guilty Wednesday of killing the animals.

In a case that Judge Peter McShane called “emotional and jarring,” reasonable doubt resulted in Lueders being acquitted of 10 animal cruelty counts, including five felony counts of maliciously killing an animal. Lueders was, however, found guilty of one count of first-degree criminal property damage.

“Not all cases end with all questions answered,” McShane said. “The law does not require absolute certainty.”

The remains were discovered in November 2018 at the residence that Lueders rented, along with piles of garbage and feces, prosecutor Felicia Valentino said Tuesday. Valentino argued that Lueders, the former president of Bully Breed Rescue Inc., starved and dehydrated the animals. The home was so severely damaged the floors had to be removed and a HAZMAT team was brought in to clean it, according to Valentino.

While giving his verdict, which marked the end of Lueders’ trial by judge, McShane noted that veterinary records were not introduced as evidence, no testimony was given by neighbors of the Prince Street residence and the dogs’ bones had no sign of fractures.

“There is no such finding as innocent,” McShane said. “What matters is what the state proved beyond a reasonable doubt.”

Following the verdict, Lueders’ attorney, Robert Serafinowicz, noted the “extreme professionalism” of all involved in the case and said he was happy with the acquittal.

Members of animal law advocacy group Desmond’s Army — a consistent presence in court throughout the case proceedings — were dismayed.

“The judge did what he had to do given the evidence, but the prosecutor did not,” Zilla Cannamela, president of Desmond’s Army, said through tears in the courthouse lobby.

Cannamela called for the state’s most experienced attorneys to represent the plaintiff in such “egregious cases” and argued rescues should be more closely monitored.

“They need to be licensed, they need to be monitored, so that this never happens again,” she said.

Valentino had no comment following the verdict.

Lueders is scheduled to be sentenced April 6 for the property damage conviction, a felony for which she could face up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine. Her bond will remain at $250,000.