[Update] Over Three Dozen Animals Removed From Collinsville Apartment

More dogs were found hiding in a Collinsville apartment Wednesday afternoon, the site where three dozen were taken a day earlier, police said. 

The 14 Center St. apartment occupant, Jessica Yazmer, 28, was cited with cruelty to animals Tuesday. 

Thursday morning, police chief Christopher Arciero said the total number of dogs taken out of the apartment was up to 40. 

Some are being treated for worms and other conditions but officials said all are alive. Four cats were taken out of the apartment as well. 

Also on Wednesday, the town’s building official posted the apartment “unsafe for human occupancy or use" after discussing the matter with police, the Farmington Valley Health District and the landlord. 

The other units in the building were not affected.

The town assessor lists the owner as Collinsville Associates, LLC. The representative at the building declined comment. 

Police were called to 14 Center St. shortly before 4 p.m. Tuesday on a report of a dog fight and found the large number of animals in the apartment, including 36 dogs and a few cats, Arciero said. 

Responding officers called the town’s Animal Control Officer and the dogs were transported to two kennels in Canton, police said.

The dogs were of several different breeds and are mostly friendly but were dehydrated and underfed, said Beverly LaPlume, Animal Control Officer for Avon and Canton. 

The dogs are being cared for at two local facilities and as of 4:45 p.m. Wednesday were not available for adoption. 

LaPlume hopes that Yazmer will willingly surrender the dogs so they can be put up for adoption as soon as possible. 

“We’re hoping she’ll surrender all the dogs,” LaPlume said. (She now has. See related story here.)

The four cats found in the apartment are available, however, and inquiries can be made to LaPlume at 860-409-4205.

Shortly after the initial complaint Tuesday, the Farmington Valley Health District was called to help assess the situation, Arciero said. 

Due to the condition of the apartment, its limited capacity for so many animals and other factors Yazmer, 28, was cited for cruelty to animals, police said. 

“The totality of it all was observed,” Arciero said. 

LaPlume said she was also able to take the dogs because not all were licensed and not all were vaccinated. 

LaPlume said Yazmer arrived at the the apartment shortly after the call with a few dogs in her car. 

Yazmer was fairly cooperative but did initially lie about the number of dogs in the apartment, LaPlume said. 

LaPlume told the Courant that three basement cages contained five to six dogs each and piles of feces.  

Many sources indicate Yazmer had much interest in animals. According to a facebook page and a friend Yazmer was a 2001 graduate of Simsbury High School and studied Animal Science at the University of Connecticut. 

A Jessica Yazmer of Collinsville is listed on numerous Web sites as contact for a group called RT Rescue.

Earlier in the day Wednesday a blurb at http://www.adoptapet.com, now taken down, stated it is a "group of volunteers who foster and adopt out pets in need of a good home. We love animals and do all we can to help pets in need. We rescue many of our dogs from high kill shelters down south, where over population is an even bigger problem. We also work on public awareness and promote spaying and neutering."

LaPlume said she did not know whether the claimed rescue work was legitimate, but said she does believe Yazmer had good intentions. 

“I think she meant well,” she told Patch. “She was trying to do a good thing."

Officials and some area residents did, however, describe the conditions of the apartment as deplorable and not fit for occupancy.

Yazmer could not be reached for comment.

Patrick Allers of Collinsville, who said he met Yazmer in 2000 while both were at Simsbury High School, acknowledged the pictures of the apartment were compelling but he said she saved the lives of numerous dogs. 

“Every time I hung out with her she showed me a dog she’d rescue from despicable conditions,” he said, adding that Yazmer would try to get him or a friend to adopt the animals.

Allers said Yazmer did rescue many dogs from southern shelters and estimated that she found homes for as many as 10 in just the past couple of weeks. 

Allers, who said Yazmer worked for many local veterinarians, said his friend likely did take on too much. 

“I think she tried so hard to adopt and take care of every dog in need and perhaps it was more than one person was capable of,” he said. 

Friday morning, workers were cleaning out the apartment.

“It’s the grossest thing I’ve ever seen,” said Michael Johnson, who added he was working for the landlord. 

For an update on the surrendering and adoption of these dogs, please see this article.