The recent arrest of New Haven minister Lisa Levy on multiple counts of animal cruelty has left many in the community shaken and searching for answers. According to police and veterinary records, five dogs in Levy’s care suffered severe medical issues, including chemical burns, neurological symptoms, seizures, and fractures. The Hamden Police Department charged her with five counts of animal cruelty, and the case is drawing attention not only because of the disturbing details, but also because it involves a religious leader who served as a community care minister at Trinity Episcopal Church on the Green.

Hamden police said the investigation began after a state animal control officer was contacted in January by a veterinarian at Central Hospital for Veterinary Medicine in North Haven. The veterinarian had reported that Levy brought in another dog with what were described as “horrendous” burns. This triggered a deeper look into Levy’s history with animals and uncovered a pattern involving several dogs and cats that had fallen seriously ill over many years. The allegations have raised serious concerns about animal cruelty and the responsibility that comes with pet ownership and animal rescue.

The cruelty charges are linked to five specific dogs named Chanco, Zuba, Yelenda, Wanda, and Steve. Police records say all of them experienced similar medical problems, including burned flesh and skin lesions, severe coughing, vomiting, seizures, collapsing, and difficulty walking. Three of the dogs, identified as Zuba, Wanda, and Steve, reportedly died from their illnesses. When reviewing these accounts, it is difficult not to be struck by how frequently serious and sometimes fatal conditions appeared in animals associated with the same home.

Chanco’s case is at the center of the most recent concerns. Chanco, a 10-year-old male chihuahua mix, was brought to Central Hospital in late January. A state animal control officer who visited the hospital saw Chanco lying motionless with red, swollen, waxy skin described as burned. Veterinary staff noted that his kidney values had worsened overnight and that he had undergone sedated procedures in an effort to treat his injuries. The severity of Chanco’s condition prompted questions about what had happened inside Levy’s home in the hours and days before he was admitted.

According to the arrest warrant affidavit, Levy and her boyfriend had adopted Chanco and another dog, Tui, as a bonded pair about six weeks earlier. The boyfriend told investigators that when he returned home around January 20, the two newly adopted dogs and a third dog in the home suddenly seemed anxious and fearful whenever Levy was nearby. He described them as frightened and barking in her presence. On January 27, he decided to bathe Chanco in a tub that had ongoing issues and had reportedly been treated with a chemical drain cleaner. Levy also told others that a maid had cleaned the tub with bleach earlier, creating a confusing and worrying mix of possible chemical exposure scenarios.

The boyfriend said he used only water during the bath, yet recalled a strong chemical smell. While drying Chanco with paper towels, he saw the dog’s fur coming off in chunks. Hours later, Chanco was found trapped behind a heavy wooden cabinet, screaming and scratching. A trail of fur led to him and large areas around his tail, legs, and abdomen were missing hair and appeared raw. The boyfriend reportedly mentioned possible chemical burns and referred to the use of Drano, while Levy pointed to bleach as the cause. Veterinary staff were shown videos of Chanco emerging from behind furniture with raw, reddened skin before collapsing.

During this same period, investigators learned that Levy was already attempting to adopt another dog from a rescue organization, telling others she did not think Chanco would survive. At Central Hospital, a veterinarian recalled a conversation in which Levy suggested she suspected her boyfriend might be harming her dogs and also described an argument that involved him breaking furniture. This allegation added another layer of complexity to the case, as questions emerged about whether the harm might have been inflicted by someone else inside the home.

When detectives interviewed Levy at her Hamden residence in early February, she told them her boyfriend of about a year and a half had been home alone with her dogs every time one developed neurological symptoms or burns on the skin. Police continued to investigate by collecting extensive veterinary records and contacting rescue groups that had previously placed animals with Levy. Over time, a broader pattern came into view involving multiple animals over more than a decade.

According to the affidavit, animal control officials concluded that from November 2010 to September 2025, Levy owned or cared for nine dogs and four cats. Of those thirteen animals, three dogs and one cat died, four dogs and one cat were euthanized, one cat went missing, one dog was returned to a rescue, and there was no clear record of the fate of one dog and one cat. Some of the animals had exhibited seizures and skin lesions similar to those seen in the five dogs central to the cruelty charges. I found this detail striking, because it suggests a long-running pattern that repeatedly ended in tragedy for many of the animals involved.

The four other dogs tied to the formal animal cruelty counts each have their own troubling history. Zuba was adopted in July 2025 and brought in dead just two months later. Levy reported that Zuba had seizures, vomiting, choking, and twitching before dying. A necropsy found massive hemorrhaging and patches of missing fur with visible red sores on the body. Yelenda, a 4-year-old schipperke, was adopted from a rescue in June 2025 and returned later that same month after developing neurological issues. Before returning Yelenda, Levy said she found the dog on her side with wounds on the belly and face. Veterinary staff detected lethargy and difficulty walking.

Wanda, a 3-year-old chihuahua mix, entered Levy’s home in February 2025. By the next month, the dog had an injured tail, multiple fractures, and other serious symptoms. Levy told veterinarians a housemate may have jumped on Wanda. The dog experienced shaking episodes and an inability to walk, which one veterinarian believed might have been caused by a toxin. The owner reportedly denied any exposure to toxins. Wanda later died in May. Steve, a 6-year-old male chihuahua mix, was adopted in October 2022. Within two months he was being treated for a cough, then later for a collapsed trachea, limping, and lesions. Between November 2024 and January 2025 there were seven emergency room visits. Steve displayed a range of symptoms over that time before dying on January 18, 2025.

Levy’s boyfriend, interviewed by investigators, acknowledged that “every few months there had been bad news with an animal” and described finding it confusing that certain dogs appeared fine before suddenly developing serious problems. He said that accidents were often explained to him with statements that the animals had fallen down stairs or suffered other mishaps. Paired with the medical records and the recurrence of burns, lesions, and neurological episodes, these explanations now form part of a larger case that law enforcement and animal welfare authorities are working to piece together.

In response to the charges, Trinity Episcopal Church on the Green placed Levy on administrative leave. Church leaders said they have notified the Episcopal Church in Connecticut and are following guidance as the legal process moves forward. Court records show that Levy was released on a $15,000 bond and is scheduled to be arraigned in March at state Superior Court in Meriden. The Hamden Police Department has stated that the investigation remains active.

This case resonates far beyond one congregation or one household. It raises difficult questions about how patterns of suspected animal cruelty can go undetected or unresolved for years, even when rescue organizations, veterinarians, and others are involved. It also highlights how essential it is for those who see possible signs of neglect or abuse to speak up, document what they observe, and contact the appropriate authorities. While the courts will ultimately decide the outcome for Levy, the detailed timeline of injuries, illnesses, and deaths described in public records suggests that closer coordination between rescuers, veterinarians, and animal control officers can be critical in protecting vulnerable animals.

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