State seeks ownership of animals

FARMINGTON — A hearing to request the transfer of ownership of about 40 animals seized from a home in New Sharon last month began Friday in Franklin County Superior Court.

Justice Michaela Murphy decided to continue the hearing, perhaps to Nov. 30, after Carol Murphy, 65, representing herself, asked to testify shortly before the court was to close for the day.

  The state is seeking ownership of the animals that were seized from Murphy's home on Lane Road by state welfare agents. They were placed in shelters around the state, which has been paying for their feed and care, and wants the ability to allow the shelters to find permanent homes for the animals, Assistant District Attorney Andrew Robinson said.

State Trooper Aaron Turcotte went to Murphy's home last month to arrest her on a warrant for unpaid fines/fees in connection to the 2005 case, and police say she used a stun gun to shock him. He was also following up on a complaint from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

Christine Fraser, state veterinarian for the animal welfare program, testified Friday for more than two hours answering questions on the condition of the animals found and the pictures she took upon entering the home. The home reeked of urine and feces creating ammonia levels that could cause respiratory damage in both animals and humans.

  There were five dogs and eight cats, either in cages or loose in the house. Other animals, including a 300-pound potbellied pig, young turkeys, a guinea hen, rabbits, five birds and two chinchillas, were found in cages in the house. Two alpacas and a miniature donkey were in stalls in the attached barn, along with five ducks, three roosters and four chickens. All were seized.

Many of the animals were dehydrated and appeared to have been without food or water, she said.

Carol Murphy claimed the state did not go into the house for a day and a half after her arrest and she caged most of the animals while she was gone. She asked how it could be considered animal cruelty when the animals went for that period of time without her there to regularly feed and water them, as she claimed she did.

Fraser testified that to her knowledge Murphy was arrested at about 3 p.m. Oct. 14. She and others went into the home at 9 a.m. on Oct. 15, but the condition of dehydration and lack of food was from more than a 12-hour period.

The guinea hen died 12 hours after the seizure and had no food in its digestive tract other than what it had been given after seizure. One chinchilla also died a few days later from pneumonia. Many of the animals had fleas, ear mites and other health issues, she said.

Carol Murphy objected that she had not had a chance to have her veterinarian examine the animals. It was only done by the state, whom she claimed wrongly took her animals in 2005. Murphy also claimed she owed thousands in vet bills and the cats and dogs were on brand name flea medicines.

Fraser said the animals were also examined by a veterinarian not employed by the state.

abryant@sunjournal.com