Dog in Cheshire's care 'deteriorated significantly' according to vet's letter in the state report

About 24 animal rights advocates march at a rally in front of Cheshire Town Hall on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. Many of those who marched later went in to address the Cheshire Town Council regarding the treatment of 32 dogs that were kept at the town's animal shelter for more than two years. 

New Haven Register | By Mark Zaretsky | March 18, 2025 | CHESHIRE — A letter from a veterinarian's office that administered euthanasia to one of the 32 dogs that spent more than two years at the Cheshire animal control facility as part of an animal abuse investigation said the dog's condition "deteriorated significantly" during that time, and urged broader review of the facility's management.

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"It is disheartening to report that Tiny appeared to receive no care, as no bath was given, no fur was brushed, and no crust was removed from his eyes," Alexandra Dumas, a Meriden Animal Hospital employee, said in a letter to a state Department of Agriculture staffer. "The crate lacked even a towel for comfort."

The letter is part of a larger report recently released by the state Department of Agriculture about its investigation into the facility and the town's treatment of the 32 dogs in its care connected to the animal abuse case the town was handling. Some have said the town also mistreated the animals while in animal control's care, which the state investigated.

"In my opinion, Tiny's condition deteriorated significantly during the two years under (Animal Control Officer April) Leiler's care," Dumas wrote in the letter. "I strongly urge consideration of the other animals currently in her care, as well as a review of the overall management of the Cheshire facility, to prevent further unnecessary suffering."

Dumas wrote that she received a phone message on July 30 from Leiler requesting an appointment with Dr. Amy Anderson "for the purpose of euthanasia. She reported that Tiny's skin infection and eye issues were not responding to treatment," the letter read.

Leiler had requested the veterinarian write a letter saying the dog's condition "was not her fault for legal purposes, citing concerns about potential claims from the dog's previous owner," according to Dumas' letter.

"Ms. Leiler explained that she had no help at the shelter, where she cares for 29 other dogs, and suggested that the dog's prolonged exposure to wet concrete floors contributed to its condition over the past two years," the letter read. "Despite her concerns, I informed her that we could not provide a letter regarding Tiny's condition prior to our care, as we only saw the dog on two occasions, on October 31, 2022, and July 26, 2024."

The report also said the state considered obtaining a warrant and/or taking "action against licensing/credential status" of the town's animal control facility or Leiler during its investigation.

A largely redacted document contained in the report reveals the department sought an arrest warrant that listed Leiler as the "accused." The application was never approved.

In the end, the State's Attorney's Office opted not to pursue a warrant, which might have meant criminal charges, according to the report. 

The Department of Agriculture also chose not to take action against the licensing or credential status of either the animal shelter or Leiler. The state ultimately closed the case and reached a voluntary consent order with the town that obligated Cheshire to make changes and improvements to its procedures and the facility, which is overseen by the Police Department.

Leiler did not immediately return requests for comment. On March 10, she said she couldn't discuss the situation at length, but pointed out that the case was closed in January. 

She said at the time that everything at the shelter was good and they were awaiting the state's approval to carry out the items in the consent order.

Meanwhile, animal advocates and supporters of the 32 dogs said they're frustrated by the town's lack of a verbal response, holding another rally before the last Town Council meeting and speaking at the meeting. The 30 or so protesters included local advocates and members of the Desmond's Army animal advocacy organization.

Town Council Chairman Peter Talbot, D-at-large, who also serves as Cheshire's mayor, once again told the crowd that the town hired someone to do an independent investigation and officials would have no further comment until that investigation is complete.

That did not satisfy the crowd.

Talbot and other town officials have thus far refused to identify who is doing the

investigation or how much they are being paid.

Residents of Cheshire and neighboring communities repeatedly pressed for more from the town at the meeting, as did many of those who marched outside chanting "ACO Must Go" and holding signs that read, "Justice For The Cheshire 32"  and "Just For Lily and Nae Nae," a reference to two of the dogs.

Diane Schaffer, a Cheshire resident since 1996, said hearing about the animals prompted her to attend her first Town Council meeting in December. She said residents have gotten "just more excuses," at the meetings though.

"What got me really upset was the completely patronizing and dismissive tone the town used toward the people in the room," she said.

She said residents brought the concerns about the treatment of the animals to light.

"It would have been business as usual with no one held accountable," Schaffer said at the meeting. "Instead of holding the bad actors accountable, you're directing your scorn and your anger at these concerned ladies and gentlemen."

Town Manager Sean Kimball has declined comment on details of an independent investigation the town has commissioned, but said in an email that the town "has been working diligently to address the concerns" in the consent order between Cheshire and the state Department of Agriculture that was signed in December.  

"It is not appropriate for the town to comment on these matters further until the independent investigation initiated by the town is complete," Kimball wrote.

A number of the advocates have called for Leiler to be fired.

"This has been a secretive whole thing since the start," said Cheshire resident Jim Block, who asked if there was a timeline for the independent investigation. "I realize there are things that can't be said, but you guys have chosen to say nothing. You have left us no choice but to litigate this on Facebook ... because here (residents) are talking to an empty void."

He said it feels like town officials are "hiding behind the town attorney," who along with the town manager are not elected positions. 

Casey Downes, a Democratic Planning and Zoning Commission member, was more charitable. She thanked the council for conducting an independent investigation.

"I look forward to (learning more about) the investigation when it's done," she said.

Jeen Melendez, an administrator of the "Advocacy for The Animals of The Cheshire Pound" Facebook group, was one of several advocates who read pages included in the state Department of Agriculture report detailing the dogs' conditions.

She asked for more information to be shared about the dogs affected, especially the two that were euthanized under the Leiler's direction. The report identifies the two euthanized dogs as Tiny, a 12-year-old shih tzu, and Lilly, a 7-year old maltese.

"I think it's real important to talk about what happened to Tiny," Melendez said. "Could Tiny have been saved? Could treatment have saved Tiny? The short answer is yes."

A post-mortem final report on Tiny by the Meriden Animal Hospital dated Sept. 26, 2024 says Tiny was thin and suffered from  "generalized demodectic mange," chronic severe gingivitis with tooth loss and chronic nephritis, or kidney inflammation. Other Department of Agriculture documents say Tiny suffered from urine scalding and dry eye.

A post-mortem preliminary report on Lilly performed by the Connecticut Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory in Storrs and dated Sept. 8, 2023, did not reveal the cause of death, with "multisystemic congestion" likely due to postmortem changes, the report states.

Bob Giddings, a retired veterinarian and a Cheshire resident, urged the activists to "take a deep breath" and try to work together to solve the problem, which brought calls of "We did" from the crowd.

"You have made your point," he said "by now you are beating a dead horse — and believe me, as a veterinarian it pains me to use that phrase."

Giddings also addressed the council.

"I am absolutely not letting you off the hook," he said. "You must keep the issue front and center. Do not drop the ball."