Coventry Woman Charged After Dogs Died Under Harsh Conditions: Police

COVENTRY, CT — A Coventry woman is facing multiple animal cruelty charges and stands accused of leaving an adult dog and a little of puppies in. harsh conditions, police said.

Coventry police released details of the June 25 arrest Monday.

That day, officers took into custody, 45-year-old Anai Martinez-Cortes. The investigation began in April when it was discovered that seven dogs were left inside an approximate 4-by-6-foot "wooden structure" with "little to no ventilation for an extended period of time," police said.

The dogs left in the structure on the Ripley Hill Road property were identified as one adult pit bull and six pit bull puppies. All but one of the dogs died in the structure, police said. One of the puppies survived and is in the care of a family member, police said.

Martinez-Cortes was charged with seven counts of cruelty to animals. She was initially held on a $150,000 court set-bond and that was reduced to a promise to appear at her arraignment the next day, judicial system records show. She is due back in court on July 30, records show.