Winsted civil suit tries to force woman charged with animal cruelty to relinquish ownership of 21 dogs

Picture – H John Voorhees III/Hearst Connecticut Media

CT INSIDER | By Brigitte Ruthman, Staff Writer | May 10, 2025 |

WINSTED — Now facing 40 counts of animal abuse related to 40 dogs in her care in two Connecticut municipalities, Sarah Smolak will be named in a civil forfeiture claim intended to sever ownership rights to 21 dogs waiting in shelters for permanent homes, Winsted Town Manager Paul Harrington said Friday.

Smolak, 28, formerly of Norwalk, where she has recently been charged with a second count of animal cruelty, moved to Winsted in February, police say. Smolak bought and moved into a small downtown house police say was found packed with dozens of dogs in crates and locked spaces on March 18. Several dogs were ill or emaciated, police said. One of the dogs said to have been in her care, Marshmallow, remains missing, according to an animal rescue group whose inquiries helped prompt police to investigate Smolak's actions.

The additional Norwalk arrest on Thursday brings to five the number of criminal cases now pending against her.

Her attorney, James Saraceni, could not be reached for comment Friday to indicate whether Smolak would fight the order to relinquish ownership of the dogs.

Smolak said nothing when she appeared Thursday in Torrington Superior Court before Judge Ann E. Lynch on her criminal case. She did not enter a plea but a pro forma not guilty plea and jury election was entered on her behalf as a matter of formality.

Harrington said Friday that the civil claim, prepared by Town Attorney Kevin Nelligan, will be filed by Monday.

"My order was to have that paperwork filed immediately," Harrington said. "Every day that goes by increases the amount of money the town owes for the care and housing of these animals, all of which could be placed in suitable homes."

Harrington didn't have an updated amount of the bill paid by the town, but said he'll seek to recover those expenditures through legal channels.

"If we have to, we will place a lien on her home to get every penny owed to the town," he said.

Harrington said the bill for feed has been offset by "hundreds of pounds" of donated food for the dogs held either in Harwinton or at overflow shelters while they await foster and permanent placement.

Lynch appointed attorney Jonathan Levitan to represent the interests of justice with regard to the prosecution of Smolak. His appointment stems from Public Act 16-30, an "Act Concerning Support for Cats and Dogs That Are Neglected or Treated Cruelly," which allows for the "separate advocate to be appointed to represent the interest of justice."

Also known as Desmond's Law, it requires advocates to be approved by the Commissioner of Agriculture.

AMA Animal Rescue, one of several groups now involved in the matter, said Levitan filed a "replevin action" to force Smolak to produce Marshmallow. AMA Animal Rescue of Brooklyn, N.Y. and Desmond's Army Animal Law Advocates are attempting to find homes for the 21 dogs remaining in shelters under the auspices of the Harwinton Regional Animal Control shelter. Both are seeking donations to be put toward care of the dogs and legal costs.