Woman Wanted For Death Of Dogs In Fairfield: Police

FAIRFIELD, CT — Police have obtained a warrant for the arrest of a local rescue group’s president in connection to the death of five dogs that were supposed to be under her care. Police 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.

Fairfield Police completed an arrest warrant affidavit for Heidi E. Lueders, 31, of Prince Street, on Thursday, Lt. Robert Kalamaras announced. Lueders is wanted on five counts of animal cruelty and first-degree criminal damage to landlord’s property by a tenant.

The arrest warrant was signed by a Bridgeport Superior Court judge who set the bond at $50,000. The Fairfield Police Detective Bureau is currently coordinating the terms of her surrender, Kalamaras said.

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. The statement was posted last week.

"It is with great sadness that we confirm all five dogs on Prince Street were dogs of Bully Breed Rescue, Inc. under the care of President Heidi Lueders," Antolini said in the statement. "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.

"At this time, all information we have has been provided to the police. We will continue cooperating with the investigation and anything that is needed to help find justice for our dogs. We, like everyone in this community, share in your grief and shock. Our focus now is continuing to ensure the safety and health of the dogs in our rescue and protecting all of the volunteers and adopters who graciously donated their time to a cause we all believe in."

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