Lawmakers Push To Make Animal Starvation A Felony In Connecticut

Connecticut lawmakers unveiled legislation that would make animal starvation a felony and expand the state’s animal cruelty laws as advocates report a sharp rise in abuse cases with declining prosecutions.

The proposals would strengthen Desmond’s Law, the 2016 statute that allows courts to appoint volunteer attorneys to represent animals in serious cruelty cases. Supporters said the changes address gaps that have emerged as cases climb while meaningful legal consequences become rare.

Desmond’s Army, a volunteer nonprofit tracking animal cruelty across the state, documented 162 cases in 2024, up from 129 in 2023. The group projects 193 cases by the end of 2025. Yet incarcerations dropped from 13 to five, while diversionary outcomes rose from 37 percent to more than 42 percent of cases.

“About 80 percent of resolved cases in 2025 were expected to result in little or no meaningful punishment,” according to the group’s report.

State Rep. Nicole Klarides-Ditria, R-Seymour, co-chair of the Legislative Animal Welfare Caucus, said Desmond’s Law was considered among the nation’s toughest when passed but now needs updating.

“Now it’s time for us to update, strengthen, and enshrine new protections into that law,” Klarides-Ditria said.

Advocates cited five starvation deaths confirmed by necropsy in January alone as evidence for the proposed felony charge. The legislation would apply only to intentional, prolonged deprivation and would not criminalize poverty, supporters said.

The package would also expand Desmond’s Law beyond dogs and cats to include horses, rabbits, guinea pigs, birds, select reptiles, legally kept fish, and domestic-bred farm animals kept as companions. Courts would have discretion to appoint pro bono advocates, creating no cost to the state.

Wolcott Animal Control Officer Roslyn Nenninger said her investigations often end in disappointment despite extensive resources devoted to building cases.

“We put everything into these cases only to have these cases dismissed,” Nenninger said. “They’re given AR and [ordered] to go to a class. There are no classes for animal abusers.”

Charles Farfaglia, a volunteer attorney, was among those supporting the legislation, along with State Rep. Kerry Wood, D-Rocky Hill, and Linda Pleva, vice president of Desmond’s Army.

Renee Denino, who advocated for the original law’s passage, framed the proposals as broader than animal protection.

“Strengthening animal cruelty laws isn’t just about punishing abusers,” Denino said. “It’s about declaring that compassion is a value worth defending.”

The legislative package also aims to improve judicial education on connections between animal cruelty and domestic violence, strengthen sentencing consistency, increase public access to case outcomes, and impose enforceable bans on future animal ownership for convicted abusers.