ANSONIA, Conn. — Two Ansonia men are facing animal cruelty charges after police said they found more than a dozen dogs and cats in their Condon Drive home in serious need of medical attention. One of them was found dead.
“Very sad that it even happened,” said Sandy, who lives nearby.
Thirty-year-old Javon Coverson and 26-year-old Assante Coverson were both arrested at the home. Javon is facing eight counts of Cruelty to Animals, seven counts of Failure to Comply with Dog Ownership Requirements, and seven counts of Failure to Comply with Rabies Control Ordinances. Assante is facing one count each of Cruelty to Animals, Failure to Comply with Dog Ownership Requirements, and Failure to Comply with Rabies Control Ordinances.
The surviving dogs are now being cared for by animal control officers in Ansonia, Oxford, and Woodbridge.
Ansonia police said on June 6, they arrived at the home to execute a search warrant in an unrelated criminal investigation. That’s when they found three cats and 11 dogs. The surviving animals were rushed to an emergency animal clinic.
Police said two Rottweiler puppies later had to be put down after being diagnosed with severe cases of parvovirus. The others are still being treated.
Neighbors in the area said they are appalled to learn about the conditions in the nearby home.
“All I see is cars coming and going all day, all night. Really strange. I’ve never seen them take a dog out for a walk or anything,” said Pat, who lives in the area.
Meanwhile, advocates fighting against animal abuse say cases like this in Connecticut keep growing and getting more violent.
“Connecticut has seen everything; everything with animals lately. There is so much, so much abuse,” said Linda Pleva, vice president and treasurer for Desmond’s Army.
Pleva follows arrests like this through her work with Desmond’s Army. She remembers a time when they only had a handful of animal abuse cases a month. They visit courthouses across the state and advocate for the animals and other victims.
“And, now, we have 60 to 70 cases a month,” Pleva said.
Almost all of which don’t end in jail time.
“People are led to believe it’s okay because there’s no repercussions; there’s no punishments,” Pleva said.
It’s something neighbors hope doesn’t happen in this case. Some report having seen police respond to the same Condon Drive home several times in the past. One woman said she had to call the cops on the same home years ago.
“I made one phone call, and it had to have been about maybe five years ago, that I thought they were running a puppy mill,” she said.
It’s an allegation that came from another neighbor, and one they couldn’t prove. She said nothing came of it at the time until now.
“I certainly hope not just a slap on the hand. I hope it’s a little bit more of a punishment, so that they don’t go back to doing it again,” she said.
Each of the suspects have court dates set for later this month. Javon Coverson posted a $10,000 bond and has a court date set for June 20, 2024, in Derby Superior Court. Assante Coverson posted a $1,000 bond and has a court date set for June 14, 2024, in Derby Superior Court.
Because of the ongoing investigation, police are not able to reveal what the original search warrant was for, and why they were first sent to the home.
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Julia LeBlanc is a reporter at FOX61 News. She can be reached at jleblanc@fox61.com. Follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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