Tong Calls For Maximum Rehabilitation Terms For Woman Convicted Of Animal Abuse, Neglect

by Brian Scott-Smith

Connecticut Attorney General William Tong took the unusual step of appearing at Danbury Superior Court on Monday, Oct. 28, to argue for maximum penalty conditions associated with proposed accelerated rehabilitation in the criminal case against Nancy Burton, of Redding.

Burton was charged with animal cruelty in 2021 following an investigation of severe animal neglect at her home, where authorities found 65 live goats and over 40 others that had died.

Tong told reporters after the hearing why he decided to speak up.

“It’s really a sad case of animal abuse and animal cruelty and I just wanted to make it clear, which I know the judge knows and knew but I thought it was important for the State to speak through me that animal abuse and animal cruelty in the state of Connecticut is never OK.”

Earlier this year a Superior Court judge considered granting Burton 30 days of accelerated rehabilitation in her criminal case, a move that would have enabled her to clear her record and own animals again after only one month.

Tong successfully argued that due to the extreme nature of Burton’s case that the maximum term under state law of two years should be applied in the case, meaning Burton is not allowed to own any animals during this time.

Tong said he hopes Burton will abide by the judge’s decision.

“This is not the first time we’ve been here with Miss Burton. This is the culmination at this point of years and years of litigation, not just in this case but other cases. I hope it’s the end of this matter and that frankly she gets the help and support that she needs. I think it’s pretty clear based on the condition of the animals, the condition of her property, that her home has been condemned as uninhabitable that this is not a  place for a person who can care for animals.”

Burton was also ordered by the court to undergo psychiatric or psychological counselling as deemed appropriate by probation as part of her two-year rehabilitation after which she will again be able to own animals, and her record will be cleared.