Reply New Canaan has been awarded temporary custody of 12 dogs from an animal cruelty investigation, according to authorities. (Shutterstock) NEW CANAAN, CT — Custody of a dozen dogs at the center of a New Canaan animal cruelty investigation has been awarded temporarily to the town, reports the New Canaan Advertiser. The town's Animal Control Unit seized the animals from a New Canaan home last month, after Animal Control Officer Allyson Halm found them living under poor conditions, according to authorities. Halm and town officials this week convinced a superior court judge that the conditions the dogs were found in warranted seizure for their protection. Police said the dogs now are doing fine.