February 3, 2010

A US state attorney general is seeking to stop a man he calls a serial animal abuser, following seizures involving dozens of animals, including horses and mules.

Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal has filed a motion for custody of dozens more animals seized from the property of a man recently arrested for separate animal cruelty charges related to a North Haven farm.

The attorney general says Paul Novicki has a long record of animal cruelty cases in Connecticut.

Blumenthal, on behalf of the state's agriculture department, seeks permanent state custody of the latest seized animals, restitution for the costs of caring for the animals and an order barring from owning or possessing any animals in the future.

The state has seized approximately 178 neglected animals belonging to Novicki in recent years, he says.

"We are asking the court to stop a serial animal abuser - someone who has repeatedly neglected animals and wasted state resources through numerous and large-scale animal seizures," Blumenthal said.

"We are fighting to protect and permanently take these latest animals seized, obtain money for their care and block harm to future animals."

Commissioner of Agriculture, Philip Prelli, said he applauded efforts to treat all violators of animal cruelty laws, especially repeat offenders, seriously.

He lauded the efforts of all those involved in the rescue and rehabilitation of the animals.

The Department of Agriculture collectively seized two horses, two mules, two burros, three cows, two dogs, 15 chickens, 26 rabbits, three pheasants, six ducks and one cat from Novicki's property in Doolittle Lane, Hamden, on January 14 and 22.

Blumenthal alleges that Novicki's horses, mules and other animals have been found roaming the nearby Hamden neighborhoods about 25 times since 2007, in at least one case resulting in a motor vehicle crash involving a horse.

On multiple recent inspections, animal control officers also found that Novicki's animals had no food or water access, and some of the animals required veterinary care.

A hearing on this latest case is scheduled for February 8 in Hartford Superior Court.

Novicki has repeatedly faced criminal animal neglect and cruelty charges over the years, including one that recently resulted in the confiscation of several dozen animals from the Rambling Ranch farm in North Haven.

The cases, starting as far back as 2003, include:

• In 2003, the state seized and ultimately won permanent custody of neglected animals from Novicki, including 27 horses, one mule and one cow. Novicki entered a plea of two counts of cruelty to animals in that case.

• Novicki was criminally convicted on one count of animal cruelty in 2006 after the state again seized one horse, one donkey, one mule, seven chickens and 18 chicks owned by Novicki.

• In 2008, Novicki was criminally convicted a third time of one count of animal cruelty after the state seized and won permanent custody of more animals belonging to Novicki, including five horses, three mules, 38 rabbits, two chickens, two ducks and three pheasants.

• Most recently, Novicki was arrested for six counts of animal cruelty after the state seized animals that Novicki was boarding at a North Haven farm, including four horses and two mules. In that ongoing case, Rambling Ranch farm owner Gina-Lee Rapuano also faces charges. In this case, the state seized a total of 19 horses, three mules, one goat, two guinea pigs, two rabbits, two doves, one parakeet, two ferrets and four dogs. The state has received permanent custody of most of the animals, and is pursuing custody of the rest.