Manchester Woman At The Center Of State Animal Cruelty Case

MANCHESTER, CT — A Manchester woman who has been leasing farmland in Suffield is the center of a firestorm that involves local charges for animal cruelty and the state's top legal officer moving to take custody of nearly 200 "neglected" animals.

Rachel Kornstein, 35, is due in court on Feb. 18 in the animal cruelty case after posting a $20,000 surety bond, court records show.

On Feb. 6, Connecticut Attorney General William Tong filed a motion for "permanent custody" of nearly 200 "severely neglected" animals seized from Suffield farmland last month.

(Google Maps)

According to Tong, following an investigation, the state Department of Agriculture's Animal Control Unit, Suffield police and the Suffield Animal Control Division coordinated an "operation" that resulted in 18 cattle, 137 chickens, 33 ducks and six Great Pyrenees dogs being rescued from the farmland leased by Kornstein. The farmland was at several locations, including 1497 Sheldon St. and 1601 Sheldon St. in Suffield and at 212 North Main Street in East Granby, Suffield police said.

Kornstein was recently arrested by the Suffield Police Department for failure to pay or plea an infraction. The infraction had been issued on Sept. 18 for failure to comply with dog ownership requirements, police said.

The animals were, "emaciated, severely dehydrated, and suffering from untreated wounds and infections," according to Tong and police.

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 even move — and died soon after giving birth, Tong said.

The conditions at the site also included "evidence" of several dead and decaying chickens.

All the animals at the farm showed "signs of severe neglect."

In a motion filed in Hartford Superior Court last week on behalf of the Department of Agriculture, Tong moved for "permanent state custody of the animals."

The motion also requests a court order dictating Kornstein to provide daily compensation to the Department of Agriculture for the temporary care of the animals.

"No animal should ever suffer like this ... We are seeking permanent state custody of these animals to ensure they receive the proper care and attention they need and deserve," Tong said.

Added Agriculture Commissioner Bryan Hurlburt, "The Department of Agriculture has a responsibility to interfere to prevent any act of cruelty upon an animal and to ensure the proper care and custody of animals in our state. When owners can"t, or won't, provide that proper care, we step in. We are currently caring for and evaluating the cows, chickens, and ducks as they recover. This was a great demonstration of coordination and cooperation between local and state agencies to execute the seizure in the best interest of the animals."

Suffield First Selectman Melissa M. Mack added, "Suffield is known for its proud history as a town of farms where caring for the land and its animals is a sacred trust. I know I speak for all of our residents when I say how deeply saddened we are that this neglect happened in our community. We are tremendously grateful to the land owner, veterinarian, Suffield’s animal control officer and the CT Department of Agriculture who stepped in to rescue these neglected animals."

Tong said most of the animals are currently at the Department of Agriculture Large Animal Rehabilitation Facility in Niantic.