According to the letter of the law at the time, no-knock warrants were considered quite extreme and contrary to appropriate police conduct. Not only did the authorities violate the required knock-and-announce stipulation, they never gave Christine a copy of the 13 page warrant. After much insistance by Christine, she finally obtained one illegible page which only contained the address of the location to be searched. When she asked where the remainder of the document was, she was told "shut the f*ck up and get out before I decide to arrest you. I don't need a reason, so you'd better f*cking do whatever I say while I am still in the mood to be a nice guy"
They tore her home to shreds, ripping cabinets and radiators out of the wall, toppling furniture, breaking family heirlooms, destroying or stealing important paperwork and personal items, and breaking new window after the unsuccessful use of a batterring ram on her front door. They used unnecessary violence and excessive force terrorizing all of the elderly, handicapped, frightened cats, wrangling and stuffing them into the filthy, contaminated carriers they came with.
Christine personally saved each of the cats from near death. Struggling to survive in the harshest of conditions, alone in the elements - starving, injured, handicapped, abused, tortured, tormented, abandoned...each of these animals had suffered and was in desperate need. She adopted out all of the viable candidates and the "undesirables" (the elderly, handicapped, or grossly disfigured, those with chronic medical conditions requiring constant care, or behavioral issues) that no one else wanted came to live with her because they had no where else to go. Most other organizations euthanize these types of cats because of the financial and laborsome burden they imposed, despite the quality of life the animals are still able to enjoy as they acclimate to their limitations under proper treatment and care.
All of the cats was spayed or neutered, vaccinated (well beyond the requirement of the law)tested (repeatedly) for feline FeLv, FIV, and all other relevant feline conditions. They were fed a high quality diet and there was a plentiful supply of fresh food and water available at all times throughout the home. One dozen litterboxes were freshened several times a day. All medical conditions were addressed and undergoing prescribed treatment. Supplements and medications were administered as directed by veterinarians.
Despite evidence of these facts provided to the Connecticut Department of Agriculture days before, during and after the raid, that agency continued to make statements to the press and claims to the court not only to the contrary of the facts and evidence, but deliberately and maliciously defamatory. Not only were some of their outrageous claims completely false, but medically impossible ("flea nests throughout the home, in the couch, bed, and even in the hair of the woman" http://www.pet-abuse.com/cases/7552/CT/US/)
**** To fight these charges, we desperately need your help. To date our legal expenses are over $40,000. We�re asking for a generous contribution to give Christine the legal representation she needs to fight these frivolous charges. Please read the materials here, and give as generous a donation as you can. It�s not just Christine�s life and AARS at stake. It�s all of ours.
*AARS is unique in its multi-lateral approach toward animal welfare/rights/rescue. It is our core belief that in order to really make a difference, we need to reach out to everyone and anyone who genuinely cares about animals and wants to do more to help alleviate their suffering. There is no simple solution to domestic animal homeless, overpopulation, and abuse issues. Many more people would get involved, but they often are judged and discouraged by other groups based on their ethnic, economic, social (or other) standing. Too often in this forum, rescue becomes more a game of control, competition, and social status where too few animals are helped and those individuals who open their hearts to help are discouraged, manipulated, and not utilized to their full potential.
Please examine the links below links below to learn more about this tragedy. When the state disregards the civil liberties of one person, all of our civil liberties are at risk.