Connecticut: 'Awful, deplorable conditions,' dead animals at Westport site for 2nd time in 6 years

CONNECTICUT -- Police discovered hundreds of animals Tuesday, many of them dead or in poor condition, along with makeshift cabins, illegal stoves and burning trash, on 70 acres off 465 American Legion Highway, police said.

“It looks like a Third World country,’’ said Westport Police Detective Jeff Majewski, public information officer for the department.

“Many of the animals we have come across are in awful, deplorable conditions,’’ he said.

For Majewski, the situation created a disturbing sense of déjà vu. Almost exactly six years ago, dead and diseased animals, illegal trash dumping and abandoned cars were uncovered on the same property. A three-day search warrant was issued at the time and Majewski charged 10 of the 20 renters on the site.

The latest police investigation began last week when a man called police to report that 18 of his goats were attacked by two Rottweilers, Majewski said. The dogs, which were in "bad shape,'' escaped a "terrible, unsanitary enclosure'' and mauled the goats, Majewski said.

By late Tuesday afternoon, investigators had searched about a third of the property, which is divided into 20 lots. Police identified the owner of the property as Richard Medeiros. People, all from outside Westport, rent plots on the property and pay in cash, Majewski said.

“It sickens me that people from outside Westport bring in abused animals, burn their household trash and care not for the environment,’’ Majewski said. “This is an unmonitored business in the ‘game of animals.’ ‘”

Among the discoveries made by police were a dog tied on a small chain and kept on clamshells and broken glass; green, swampy water left out in the hot sun for a dog; meat with maggot eggs and flies in it, apparently left in a bucket as food, according to photos police took at the scene.

Three goats were suffering so badly they were euthanized, Majewski said. Dead sheep were sprawled on the ground as other animals walked around their bodies, according to the police photos. Horses, pigs, goats and chickens were also found on the property, he said.

This was not a sanctioned farming operation, Majewski said. "This isn't about farming or raising livestock,'' he said. Very few of the animals were tagged, which is one way to track diseases in animals, he said.

The makeshift cabins had burned walls and improper construction and did not have required building permits, Majewski said. A few months ago, police recovered three stolen vehicles, an Infinity, a Mercedes and a motorcycle, from one of the lots, Majewski said. Eight firearms were taken from the same lot, he said. Police have been unable to trace them, he said.

In both the 2010 and current incidents, Majewski said conditions were "unsanitary'' and animals were suffering. "The town should be ashamed that this has continued from years ago,'' he said.

The property is located about 600 feet from Jillian Way, a residential neighborhood, Majewski said.
"The neighbors from this area and the rest of the town should demand that this does not continue any longer,'' he said. "It affects all aspects of the community.''

Westport police were assisted by Dartmouth and Fall River police and the Animal Rescue League of Boston. State and Environmental police were also on the scene.

(South Coast Today - ‎July 20, 2016‎)