Hamden Woman Charged with Five Felony Counts of Animal Cruelty After Rescue Dogs Die
Lisa Levy, 48, held a ministerial role at a New Haven church. Police say dogs in her care were poisoned with bleach or Drano over a span of more than three years.
Last updatedFebruary 28, 2026
Hamden Police Department
Hamden Woman Arrested on Animal Cruelty Charges
Hamden police arrested Lisa Levy, 48, on Wednesday, Feb. 26, and charged her with five felony counts of animal cruelty. The charges stem from incidents spanning more than three years in which multiple rescue dogs in Levy's care were allegedly poisoned with caustic chemicals, police said.
Four dogs have died, four were euthanized due to irreversible injuries, and at least three others are missing, according to the arrest warrant. One dog was returned to a rescue organization. Veterinary records cited in the warrant describe animals suffering from chemical burns, neurological damage, seizures, fractures, and an inability to walk — symptoms consistent with exposure to bleach or Drano.
Levy was released on a $15,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in Meriden Superior Court on March 6.
A Pattern Going Back to 2022
The five charges correspond to specific incidents on Dec. 5, 2022; Feb. 11, 2025; June 13, 2025; July 26, 2025; and Jan. 27, 2026, according to court documents. The most recent involved a 10-year-old chihuahua mix named Chanco.
Levy and her boyfriend, Isaak Cuenco, had adopted Chanco and a second dog as a bonded pair from Murphy’s Paw Rescue about six weeks earlier. On Jan. 27, Cuenco tried to bathe Chanco and noticed a strong chemical smell coming from the dog. When he dried Chanco off, fur came away in chunks. Hours later, hair was missing from around the dog’s tail, hind legs, abdomen, sides, and chest. The skin underneath was red, swollen, and sloughing off, with what veterinarians described as "horrendous" burns.
Cuenco rushed Chanco to a veterinary clinic in North Haven. That veterinarian alerted Hamden police, triggering the investigation that led to Levy’s arrest.
The day after Chanco was hospitalized — Jan. 28 — Levy attempted to adopt another dog, police said.
Levy Blamed Boyfriend, Police Say
When investigators confronted Levy, she pointed the finger at Cuenco. She told police "he had anger issues" and added, "If he’s hurting my dogs, it’s a huge deal breaker," according to the arrest warrant. Cuenco has not been charged.
A North Haven veterinarian told police that Levy had previously brought three dogs to the clinic with neurological problems and chemical burns. Two of those three dogs died at the clinic, court documents show.
Levy held the title of Community Care Minister at Trinity on the Green Episcopal Church in New Haven, where she had worked since 2022 — first as outreach coordinator, then in the ministerial role starting in 2024. She also served as outreach coordinator at Loaves & Fishes, one of the largest food pantries in the greater New Haven area.
Trinity on the Green has since removed all references to Levy from its website. When contacted by media, the church read from a prepared statement saying it was cooperating with investigators and referred additional questions to the rector.
Rescue Group: ‘Leading the Pursuit of Justice’
Murphy’s Paw Rescue, which had placed Chanco and his bonded companion with Levy, moved quickly once concerns surfaced.
"As soon as concerns arose, we immediately reclaimed our dog from her home and assumed responsibility for the humane medical decisions for the dog in the ICU," the rescue organization said in a statement. "We are leading the pursuit of justice, not only for our dogs, but for every animal affected."
The group said it is cooperating with Hamden investigators and is now pushing for stronger vetting procedures in rescue adoption protocols.
What Comes Next
Levy’s initial court appearance is set for March 6 at Meriden Superior Court. Under Connecticut law, animal cruelty charges can carry penalties ranging from up to one year for a first offense to up to five years for felony convictions on subsequent offenses.
The investigation remains open. Hamden police and animal control officials have not said whether additional charges are being considered. Loaves & Fishes has not commented publicly on Levy’s status with the organization.
