Connecticut criminalizes animal cruelty including hoarding under state law, with statewide felony provisions for severe neglect and authority for state animal control officers to seize animals from any locality.
Conn. Gen. Stat. Sec. 53-247 prohibits cruelty to animals including failure to provide proper food, water, shelter, and care. Aggravated cruelty involving malicious harm or hoarding situations with multiple animals in distress is a class D felony. Section 22-329a authorizes the state animal control officer or municipal officers to take physical custody of any animal found neglected, with court hearings on disposition. Connecticut courts may also impose mental health evaluations and permanent bans on animal ownership. These provisions apply uniformly statewide.
Standard cruelty is a class A misdemeanor (up to one year jail, $2,000 fine). Aggravated cruelty is a class D felony with up to five years imprisonment and $5,000 fine.
See how Windham's animal hoarding rules stack up against other locations.
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