Hamden Woman, Minister, Accused Of Animal Cruelty: Hamden Police

HAMDEN, CT — A Hamden woman who works as a minister in New Haven was recently arrested on accusations of animal cruelty in connection with the conditions of several rescue dogs in her care.

Lisa Levy, 48, was arrested Feb. 20 on five counts of animal cruelty, according to police.

The arrest stems from an investigation that was launched on Jan. 28 after a veterinarian from the Central Hospital for Veterinary Medicine in North Haven contacted the Hamden Animal Control regarding another dog that Levy brought in with “horrendous” burns, according to an arrest warrant affidavit.

The veterinarian said they had an open case with Levy in which there had been three dogs brought in with “neurological problems as well as chemical burns,” according to the affidavit.

The affidavit also stated that all the dogs were recent rescues, and two of the dogs died while the third was given back to the rescue.

A warrant was issued for Levy’s arrest following an investigation that police said found probable cause on animal cruelty charges for the dogs named Chanco, Zuba, Yelenda, Wanda, and Steve. The dogs all had “similar/same medical conditions including burned flesh/skin lesions, neurological symptoms, cough, vomiting, seizures, fractures, collapsing, not able to walk,” according to the affidavit.

The affidavit also noted several other dogs and cats that had been in Levy’s care that had health issues dating back to 2011. Rescue organizations noted that Levy had been thoroughly vetted and no red flags came up during the adoption process.

Hamden police said in a news release on Thursday that the investigation is ongoing.

“The Hamden Police Department remains committed to protecting the safety and well-being of our residents and animals,” police wrote in the news release. “We will continue to dedicate the necessary resources to ensure a complete and thorough investigation.”

Levy was released after posting a $15,000 bond with a court date of March 6, according to state judicial records.

Levy works as a community care minister at the Trinity Episcopal Church on the Green in New Haven. She has been placed on administrative leave, church officials confirmed on Thursday.

“As we gather more information, we are placing Lisa on administrative leave,” Rev. Luk De Volder said in a statement. “We are keeping Lisa in our prayers and all those impacted by this situation. This is a tragic situation, and we grieve it. As people of faith, we know that what God has made is sacred. As people whose lives are enriched by the companionship of animals, we know they must be treated with care, respect, and dignity.

“We are mindful of the significant spiritual and emotional impact of this news on our community.”

The statement also noted that the New Haven church has notified the Episcopal Church in Connecticut, which is providing guidance. Levy is being represented by an attorney in her pending state case, according to the statement.

According to the arrest warrant affidavit, the North Haven veterinarian met with police regarding the condition of Chanco, a 10-year-old male chihuahua mix, on Jan. 28.

Chanco was “motionless with badly burned skin that was red, swollen, and waxy in appearance,” according to the affidavit. The veterinarian said Chanco’s kidney values had worsened overnight after undergoing “sedated procedures,” according to the affidavit.

The veterinarian overheard a conversation that mentioned Levy and a dog with chemical burns, which drew their attention because they had seen Levy’s dogs in the past.

Further investigation found that Chanco had been brought in by Levy and her boyfriend. Levy’s boyfriend said that on Jan. 27 he saw that Chanco had some stool on his hind end and brought him to the bathtub to bathe him, according to the affidavit.

Levy’s boyfriend said the tub had issues and Drano was used, while Levy said the housemaid had cleaned the tub with bleach earlier. During the bath with just water, there was a “strong chemical smell,” according to the affidavit.

The boyfriend dried Chanco off with paper towels and his fur was “coming off in chunks,” according to the affidavit. Later in the day, Chanco was found behind a heavy wooden cabinet “screaming and scratching to get out,” and the boyfriend said he could see a trail of fur behind him, according to the affidavit.

When the cabinet was moved, Chanco “ran out and laid down, seemingly acting normal: however his fur was missing around his tail, hind legs, abdomen, sides, and chest,” police wrote in the affidavit.

Levy went to the Yalesville Veterinary Hospital on Jan. 28 trying to adopt another dog from a rescue because she “didn’t think Chanco would make it,” according to the affidavit.

The Central Hospital for Veterinary Medicine contacted police on Jan. 30 regarding a conversation with a veterinarian and Levy. The veterinarian told Levy that Chanco’s injuries were from a thermal or chemical burn.

Levy said she was starting to suspect her boyfriend and that they had gotten into an argument and said he crossed over from anger to rage, and threw a chair against the wall, and flipped over a table, according to the affidavit.

Levy told the veterinarian that “if a person did this, it wasn’t me,” and “if he’s hurting my dogs, it’s a huge dealbreaker,” according to the affidavit.

Police and the Hamden Animal Control continued to investigate Levy and the dogs and cats she’s owned, including through veterinarian records and Facebook posts.

Levy’s boyfriend was interviewed on Feb. 10 and said that Levy was known for taking in rescues and “every few months there has been bad news with an animal,” according to the affidavit. He found it “confusing, certain dogs will be perfectly fine, then have issues.”

“Accidents started happening, she would tell him that they fell down the stairs, etc.,” he said, according to the affidavit.