February 17, 2011

Woman faces animal cruelty charges

By CHELSEY POLLOCK
Union Leader Correspondent
LEVESQUE
DERRY -- A Sandown woman is facing animal cruelty charges after police say she abandoned two dogs, a cat and a hamster in her home for at least 10 days.
Lida Levesque, 35, of 3 South Landing in Sandown was supposed to be arraigned in Derry District Court yesterday, but
 court staff said a judge was not available Wednesday.
A new arraignment date has yet to be set, court staff said.
Levesque is facing four class A misdemeanor charges of animal cruelty after Sandown police say she left two dogs, a cat and hamster alone in her
 home for at least 10 days without heat, food or water during below-zero temperatures. 

The hamster was found dead inside the home. 
A neighbor called police to the home on Jan. 25, saying she had not seen anyone at the home in at least two weeks, according to a police affidavit. 
When police first arrived at the home, officers noted between 8 to 10 inches of undisturbed snow coating the driveway and yard, according to affidavit by Sandown police Sgt. Scott Wood. 
Wood said he saw two dogs shivering through the window of the home. One of the dogs was very thin, he said, and its ribs were showing. 
Once inside the home, Wood said he noted “extremely cold” temperatures that dropped below the 19-degree outside temperature, according to the affidavit. 
The two dogs were in the main part of the home and a cat was found in the basement, each without food or water, Wood said in the affidavit. 
The dead hamster was found it is cage and is thoughT to have frozen to death, Wood said. 
The dogs and cat were taken to Doberman Rescue Unlimited in Sandown, according to the affidavit. 
Levesque faces one animal cruelty charge for each pet found in the home. 
Referencing the hamster, the complaint says Levesque “permitted her hamster to be subjected to inhumane treatment or unnecessary suffering.” 

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