Two Dogs From Groton Animal Abuse Case Find Homes

Two of the five dogs seized from a Mystic home in an animal cruelty case have found new homes, and the town is seeking assistance to cover veterinary costs for two  other animals.

Animal Control Officer Donna Duso said a male Shih Tzu named "Willie" was adopted on Thursday by a retired Navy couple from Groton who do not want to be publicly identified.

A second dog, a puppy believed to be a Shih Tzu-Cocker Spaniel mix, will be picked up this weekend by a family from New Jersey who met her in January and put a deposit on the dog before police arrested the breeder.  They have named her "Zoe".

Linda Snow, 59, of Mystic, was charged Feb. 17 with criminal impersonation, cruelty to animals and interfering with police. Police found five dogs in her home at 59 Oslo St. suffering from various stages of neglect, according to a police report.

Duso said a female Schnauzer and male Maltese named "Gizmo" seized from the home still need significant veterinary care, and she is seeking the public's help. The Schnauzer needs to be spayed at a cost of $400 due to an infected uterus, and the Maltese needs a minimum of $840 of work. The cost of care for the five animals so far is at $846, she said. Police also seized a Cocker Spaniel who needs basic care but is otherwise all right.

"I am holding off on the other adoptions until I clear up some medical issues," Duso said. "I would like to place the Schnauzer and the Cocker Spaniel together because they get frantic when they are separated."

Duso said she has a list of people who inquired about the dogs, including one who is weighing whether he wants to adopt two instead of one.

Donations for the animals can be made to the nonprofit Groton Animal Foundation, Inc., PO box 7023, Groton, CT, 06340, or by contacting Groton Animal Control at (860) 441-6709.