NAUGATUCK, CT — Police are investigating after a dog was found wandering alone in Naugatuck with a chain embedded in his neck earlier this month.
During a news conference Monday, which was livestreamed through Facebook, Police Sgt. Danielle Durette said a male Siberian husky was found roaming alone in the area of Platts Mill Road, near the Waterbury town line, on May 13 around 1 p.m.
Three concerned citizens were able to lure the dog into a vehicle after they noticed a chain was embedded in the dog’s neck. The animal also had difficulty walking and appeared to be underweight, Durette said.
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The dog was brought to Naugatuck Animal Control, who have since named him “Justice,” Durette said.
Justice was then brought to Central Valley Animal Hospital, where he was taken into surgery to remove the 28-inch embedded chain, Durette said. He was also given a rabies shot.
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Justice was diagnosed with an abscess wound as a result of the chain embedded into his skin, as well as a fever and poor body condition, Durette said.
“We are looking for suspects involved and any individuals that are involved,” Durette said, “so we are asking the public to help us out with that.”
Durette said police are investigating every angle of this case. She also noted there are residential homes in the area of Platts Mill Road and urged residents who live in the area to check any cameras or home security footage they may have from the afternoon Justice was found in Naugatuck.
Desmond’s Army, an animal law advocate group, is offering a $1,500 reward for any information leading to the identification of the people involved in this incident.
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According to Desmond’s Army President Zilla Cannamela, the group’s mission is to help bring perpetrators in animal cruelty cases to justice.
“We commend and thank the Naugatuck Police Department for taking animal cruelty so seriously,” Cannamela said, “because animal cruelty is statistically linked to domestic violence, social violence, and it is a gateway and red flag crime. Anyone that can do this to an animal is quite capable of doing it to a person.”
Police estimated Justice is about 1-2 years old, and Animal Control Officer Steve Rupsis said he seemed happy as of Monday.
Durette noted Justice is not available for adoption at this time as he continues to recover, however police will notify the public when he is available.
“Obviously it goes without saying we’re all big animal lovers here at the Naugatuck Police Department,” Durette said. “[Animal Control officers] work very, very hard for the borough of Naugatuck to protect all the animals in this town, so something like this, they are working very diligently to try to identify these people involved with this.”
The news conference can be viewed in full on the department’s Facebook page.
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