'Neglected' Animals 'Secured' In Manchester/Suffield Cruelty Case

MANCHESTER/SUFFIELD, CT — State officials on Friday officially secured custody of nearly 200 "severely neglected" animals seized last month from Suffield farmland leased by a Manchester resident.

"We succeeded today in securing state custody of all animals seized in this horrible case. No animal should ever suffer as these animals did," Connecticut Attorney General William Tong said.

Tong classified the animals as "severely malnourished, dehydrated and diseased."

" ... and there was no way the owner was going to be able to provide the intensive care and rehabilitation that is required,” Tong said.

Following an investigation, the state Department of Agriculture Animal Control Unit, Suffield Police and Suffield's Animal Control Division coordinated an operation that resulted in 18 cows, 137 chickens, 33 ducks and six Great Pyrenees dogs seized from a farm leased by Rachel Kornstein, of Manchester, a report indicates.

According to Connecticut Agriculture Commissioner Bryan Hurlburt, the animals were "emaciated, severely dehydrated, and suffering from untreated wounds and infections."

He added, "With this settled, we are now assured that the livestock and dogs will continue to receive the proper care that they deserve."

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 move and died soon after giving birth. The conditions at the site also included evidence of several dead and decaying chickens.

On Feb. 6, on behalf of the Department of Agriculture, Tong moved for permanent state custody of the animals. On Friday, Kornstein agreed to relinquish custody of all animals.

Most of the animals are currently at the Department of Agriculture Large Animal Rehabilitation Facility in Niantic.

Kornstein, 35, is due in court on Feb. 18 to face animal cruelty-related charges after posting a $20,000 surety bond, court records show.

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.