State bars man from ever owning animals again

HAMDEN, Conn. (AP) — A Hamden man charged with animal cruelty can never own animals ever again.

State Attorney General Richard Blumenthal says he obtained the Superior Court order Monday in the case of Paul Novicki, who has seen the state seize about 178 animals from him over the past several years on cruelty and neglect claims.

State officials last month seized from Novicki's property two horses, two mules, two donkeys, 26 rabbits, 15 chickens, six ducks, three pheasants, two dogs and a cat.

He was charged with animal cruelty in December after the state seized four horses and other animals that he was boarding at a North Haven farm. The charges remain pending.

Novicki has denied the cruelty allegations and says he volunteered to give up his animals.