Dead dog and over 12 emaciated animals found in house in Ansonia

ANSONIA, Connecticut — Two Ansonia men are facing animal cruelty charges after police found more than a dozen dogs and cats in need of urgent medical attention at their Condon Drive home. One of the animals was found dead.

“Very sad that this even happened,” said Sandy, who lives nearby.

Javon Coverson, 30, and Assante Coverson, 26, were both arrested at home. Javon is charged with eight counts of cruelty to animals, seven counts of failure to comply with dog ownership regulations, and seven counts of failure to comply with rabies control regulations. Assante is charged with one count each of cruelty to animals, failure to comply with dog ownership regulations, and failure to comply with rabies control regulations.

The surviving dogs are now being cared for by animal welfare officers in Ansonia, Oxford and Woodbridge.

RELATED TOPICS: Nearly a dozen dogs and three cats seized in Ansonia animal cruelty investigation

Ansonia police said they arrived at the home on June 6 to execute a search warrant as part of an unrelated criminal investigation. They found three cats and 11 dogs inside. The surviving animals were taken to an emergency animal hospital.

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 said they were horrified when they learned of the conditions in the nearby house.

“I just see cars coming and going all day and night. Really weird. I’ve never seen them walking a dog or anything,” said Pat, who lives in the area.

Meanwhile, activists fighting against animal cruelty report that such cases are becoming more common and more brutal in Connecticut.

“Connecticut has been through everything lately; everything that has to do with animals. There is so much, so much abuse,” said Linda Pleva, vice president and treasurer of Desmond’s Army.

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Pleva tracks arrests like this one through her work with Desmond’s Army. She remembers a time when they only had a handful of animal cruelty cases per month. They visit courthouses across the state and advocate on behalf of the animals and other victims.

“And now we have 60 to 70 cases per month,” Pleva said.

Almost all of them do not end in a prison sentence.

“People are made to believe that it’s okay because there are no consequences, no penalties,” says Pleva.

Neighbors hope that doesn’t happen in this case. Some report seeing police called to the same Condon Drive home several times in the past. One woman said she had to call police to the same home years ago.

“I called once, and it must have been maybe five years ago, when I thought they were running a puppy mill,” she said.

RELATED: Waterbury man charged with animal cruelty after allegedly abandoning pit bull in Wolcott

It’s an accusation that came from another neighbor and that she couldn’t prove. She said nothing came of it then, and nothing has come of it now.

“I hope, of course, that it’s not just a slap on the wrist. I hope it’s a slightly more severe punishment so that they don’t do it again,” she said.

All suspects have court dates scheduled for later this month. Javon Coverson has been set for $10,000 bail and his court date is scheduled for June 20, 2024 in Derby Superior Court. Assante Coverson has been set for $1,000 bail and his court date is scheduled for June 14, 2024 in Derby Superior Court.

Because the investigation is ongoing, police are unable to release the original search warrant or why it was first sent to the home.

Julia LeBlanc is a reporter at FOX61 News. She can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Facebook, X And Instagram.

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