On Tuesday morning, Enfield police executing a robbery warrant walked into 293 Abbe Road and found 34 dogs, 17 exotic birds, and a capuchin monkey living in conditions described as unsafe. They also found three firearms, narcotics, and a child.

Francisco Perez-Figueroa and Erica Valentin were arrested on charges that include cruelty to animals, illegal possession of a monkey, and risk of injury to a minor. The monkey was seized and turned over to the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. The remaining animals stayed on-site while animal control continues its investigation.

This was not found through proactive enforcement. It was discovered because of an unrelated robbery warrant. Without that warrant, the animals and the child inside that home would still be there.

Connecticut has no system for catching situations like this before they become crises. Animal control and the Department of Children and Families do not share a coordinated reporting protocol. There is no licensing requirement or regular inspection for exotic animal ownership. No threshold triggers a welfare check when dozens of animals accumulate at a single address.

We are calling on the Connecticut General Assembly to require cross-agency reporting between animal control and DCF when children and animals are both at risk, pass enforceable exotic animal possession restrictions with mandatory DEEP licensing, and fund dedicated state infrastructure for exotic animal seizure and placement.

Sign this petition to demand Connecticut close the gaps that left a child, 34 dogs, 17 birds, and a monkey hidden behind one door until a robbery investigation opened it.