Target: Maureen Platt, State’s Attorney for the Waterbury Judicial District, Connecticut
Goal: Seek felony prosecution, meaningful jail time, and a permanent ban on animal ownership for the person who reportedly allowed four dogs, a cat, and a bearded dragon to suffer in worsening, hazardous conditions.
Watertown police say they spent three years conducting welfare checks at a Cherry Avenue residence, each time reportedly warning the pet owner to secure veterinary care and improve living conditions. During the most recent visit, officers allegedly discovered a home so filthy that every animal required immediate medical intervention. Four dogs, one cat, and a bearded dragon were reportedly removed in urgent need of treatment.
According to authorities, the guardian had repeatedly failed to follow prior directives, leaving the animals trapped in an environment that deteriorated from neglect. Police describe the conditions as “considerably” worse than in past inspections, with all six pets now in the custody of animal-control officials for lifesaving care.
Extended, willful neglect should not be treated as a minor offense. Connecticut law provides felony penalties when a person knowingly subjects animals to serious harm. Sign below to demand the harshest legal consequences—incarceration, steep fines, and a lifetime prohibition on keeping animals—to affirm that chronic cruelty carries severe repercussions and help deter future neglect.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear State’s Attorney Platt,
Watertown officers conducted multiple welfare visits over three years to a Cherry Avenue home, reportedly urging the resident to obtain veterinary care and improve unsanitary conditions. Despite these efforts, the latest inspection allegedly revealed four dogs, a cat, and a bearded dragon living in such degraded surroundings that all required urgent medical attention. Authorities further state that prior directives were ignored.
Prolonged neglect that inflicts suffering over months or years is not a momentary lapse; it is a deliberate denial of the most basic necessities of life. Connecticut’s felony cruelty statutes exist to address exactly this type of enduring harm. A misdemeanor response would minimize the gravity of the allegations and fail to deter similar cases.
We therefore respectfully ask your office to pursue the maximum felony charges supported by evidence, advocate for incarceration and significant financial penalties, and request a permanent ban preventing the accused from owning or harboring animals in the future. A decisive prosecution will deliver justice to these victims and reinforce that systemic neglect will not be tolerated.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo credit: Andrew Tisinger
