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The Connecticut Department of Agriculture (CT DOA) has a long history of raiding the homes of animal rescuers. Little Cat Feats is one well known animal rescue group that suffered a gross miscarriage of justice at the hands of the Connecticut Department of Agriculture under the direction of Richard Gregan. Links from Doug Harris and Little Cat Feats are listed below. What is also disturbing is the large number of similar cases where animal rescue groups are targeted and recklessly slaughtered (much like the animals on Richard Gregan's hunting trips) by the agency supposedly working on their behalf, the Connecticut Department of Agriculture.
There are hundreds of cases on petabuse.com listed in the state of Connecticut. What is rather telling is to look at the statistics...of the 325 alleged cat hoarding cases nationwide that is listed on that website, 175 of them resulted in convictions. In the state of Connecticut, there were over 15 cases of alleged cat hoarding, with only 1 conviction. This supports the theory that the CT DOA operates above the law. Rather then getting convictions in the court of law, they intimidate their victims into settling. They would rather settle outside of court, knowing full well that they are operating well outside the jurisdiction of CT state and federal law.
Every citizen who has been subjected to being harassed and terrorized by the Connecticut Department of Agriculture has a similar story. The state animal control officers, particularly Richard Gregan and his cohort Barbara Godejohn are nasty, brutish bullies who believe they are above the law. They have no understanding or respect for animals, their health or people alike. There have been many instances where animal control officers threatened their way into a private residence without a search warrant, and once inside started confiscating cats. Under testimony both in sworn deposition and court, officer Gregan stated that he (and the department) made no differentiation between a pet shop or the private residence of ANYONE involved in animal rescue. Connecticut pet shop policy Everyone who feeds or rescues homeless animals is terrified of the CT DOA because of their well established reputation for intimidating and terrorizing animal rescuers. People who ve worked for our organization didn't want to give their names or addresses in fears of retribution if our list happens to get into the hands of the DOA animal control officers.
What is fascinating is how many ACTUAL animal ABUSERS and the multitude of complaints made against them are routinely ignored by the State of Connecticut Department of Agriculture. Far more of the state's precious resources are wasted on hapless witch hunts condemning and decimating the hardest working least affluent grassroots animal rescuers and groups then it does going after ANY legitimate animal abusers. Anyone who has attempted to file a legitimate abuse complaint with the State of Connecticut Department of Agriculture can attest to this unfortunate well-known fact.
They once had a link on their website:
http://www.ct.gov/doag/cwp/view.asp?Q=309508&A=1401
This link went into detail about how independent animal rescue groups are usually a sham for animal hoarders, and how the only legitimate cat adoptions take place from animal shelters. After the raid against Christine�s home, they promptly removed that controversial article from their website.
It is telling as to their motives. They feel that independent animal rescue groups complete with them, and highlight the fact that they are not doing an effective job at controlling that state's homeless animal population. So rather then try harder to address the issues of homeless animals and animal abusers, the state spends its resources going after those who rescue animals off the streets.
No state agency should be allowed to operate above the law. The CT DOA has a well established history of abusing their power. Most of their victims have settled out of court. Christine refused.
Rather then giving in to the DOA, Christine is vigorously fighting these charges in court. If she is successful, the CT DOA is going to experience some radical changes. A victory for Christine would establish a legal precedence that the CT DOA has operated outside its legal authority, and would be a huge victory for all animal advocates in the state of Connecticut. Please help, give as generous a donation as you can. Thank you.