Exotic Animal Owner

Faces Eviction

By Tanjua Damon

It’s been a troubling year for East Coast Exotics owner Susan DeFrancesco, who will have to vacate her 5 Osborne Hill Road Extension home by September 22 because the property is being foreclosed.

Ms DeFrancesco received an eviction notice from Fairfield County Sheriff Charles Valentino on September 3. The property she resides on is being released to Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp of McLean, Va. She has to leave the property with all her belongings by September 22 at 9 am according to the notice.

“The eviction process has been taking place over the last two years and the attorney finally got the okay to foreclose on the property,” Sheriff Valentino said. “She tried several motions to try and stop the ejection. I have to go back out there on the 22nd to make sure everything is gone. If there are still animals there, I’ll have to remove them.”

In a faxed statement, Ms DeFrancesco said that the house on 5 Osborne Hill Road Extension is under foreclosure because of her divorce from her husband.

“Everything was in his name and he went bankrupt,” she said. “I plan to still stay in Newtown with friends. I’ve placed many of the animals with wonderful people.”

Ms DeFrancesco is the owner of East Coast Exotics Inc., where she housed and exhibited exotic animals including a llama, potbelly pig, arctic foxes, large rheas, wallabies, and an iguana. She closed her zoo in July after the US Department of Agriculture administrative judge found Ms DeFrancesco guilty of violating the Animal Welfare Act. She was cited for her failure to provide for the frequent collection and removal of waste; failure to keep food and water receptacles clean and sanitized; and failure to provide animals with adequate shelter from the elements. She was fined $20,000. Ms DeFrancesco said she has found homes for most of the exotic animals that were at her home.

 Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service’s (APHIS) Elizabeth Golderntyer, regional director, said the agency began investigating Ms DeFrancesco after complaints that her exotic animals were being mistreated.

“We got involved because she was exhibiting animals to the public, which requires a license. She is not holding a valid license now and is prohibited from exhibiting animals,” Dr Golderntyer said. “We can’t make her get rid of the animals. We will be monitoring her to make sure she doesn’t violate the court order.”

Ms DeFrancesco was given a 70-day suspension and can reapply for a license to exhibit animals in mid-October, according to Dr Golderntyer. The civil penalty of $20,000 still has not been paid.

Ms DeFrancesco is currently putting together a television show entitled Power, which will focus on corrupt individuals in governmental positions, she said. Anyone interested in joining the effort can contact Ms DeFrancesco at 203/426-6316 or attend a meeting at Charter Communications on September 21 at 7:30 pm.