Woman charged with animal cruelty faces new charges

New London, Conn. (WTNH) - A woman charged with cruelty to animals faces additional charges after she was found using a fake name, authorities said Friday.

Linda Snow faces five charges of animal cruelty and one charge of criminal impersonation. The whole reason police even began investigating her is because one day she showed up to the Old Mystic Fire department with who she said was her husband in need of emergency medical care. But they weren't who she said they were.

The woman who appeared in New London superior court is 59-year-old Linda Snow, not "Mary Howard", even though she has a Connecticut license in that name and her companion who remains in a vegetative state isn't her husband Michael. He's Mark Zimmerman.

According to court papers the couple always paid their rent at their home on Oslo Street in Mystic in cash, and when Groton police went inside they found five dogs in various stages neglect.

"Oh that's awful," said neighbor Ruth Willow, who lives down the street. "I never would have believed it around this neighborhood."

"I used to walk by with my dogs and I'd see little yippee dogs and they were running loose," she said, never knowing what it was going on in the home or that her neighbor had been arrested for animal cruelty in Massachusetts for operating a puppy mill.

Police say those dogs were kept in cages, their hair knotted and matted with feces. The rooms which are now being aired out reeked of foul animal waste, and no water or food was set for the dogs.

A light was left on, but no one appeared to be home.

"I don't know how someone can stay in a house like that," Willow said. "It's unbelievable."

According to court papers Snow was ordered not to leave Massachusetts as part of her parole and she was ordered not to sell any more puppies. Because of the condition of these dogs found in Mystic, the judge said those animals were most likely not for sale.

Police say they are looking to speak with anyone who has purchased a dog from Mary Howard, Linda Snow, Michael Howard or Mark Zimmerman, or from the website conneticutcockapoos.com . Anyone who has is asked to call Groton Town Police Department at 860-441-6712 or the Animal Control Officer at 860-441-6709.