Melissa Mae Ahlgren Faces Cruelty Charges After 16 Dogs Seized

Melissa Mae Ahlgren, 35, was arrested October 1 following an investigation that led authorities to seize 16 dogs from a Naugatuck, Connecticut, home in August, police said in reports by CT Insider and Daily Voice. She faces 16 counts of animal cruelty and eight additional vaccination and dog ownership counts.

The dogs remain in animal control care

Daily Voice reports that Naugatuck Animal Control is caring for the seized dogs and that they cannot be adopted while the case proceeds. They include young puppies. Removal from the home has therefore not made them available for new owners.

A separate September 23 Patch report described Animal Control’s request for supplies while it held 16 dogs and two cats pending a court custody decision. That report did not identify Ahlgren. The two cats should not be added to the dog seizure described in the arrest reports.

An August investigation led to this week’s arrest

Police said the inquiry began August 6 after Animal Control learned of a critically ill five week old puppy in Ahlgren’s care. Daily Voice reports that Prospect Animal Control helped get the puppy to an emergency hospital, where it was euthanized. Police described findings of bacterial pneumonia and poor nutrition.

Officers searched the Celentano Drive property on August 20. Police said they found urine and feces throughout the home, with no running water or dog food. The home was condemned and the dogs were removed.

CT Insider reports that Ahlgren was arraigned in Waterbury on October 2. The charges remain allegations, and no conviction is established by the reports reviewed.

Police also allege she used an online advertisement to harass an animal control officer investigating the case. That accusation is covered by a separate warrant. Daily Voice reports a $50,000 bond on the animal case, with other warrants accounting for the remainder of a reported $110,000 total.

How we reported this: We compared two arrest reports with the earlier shelter appeal. A case specific police release was not accessible through the department’s public records page or embedded social post. The arrest details remain attributed to police through those outlets.