Two Woodbridge men were arrested and a dog was removed from their home after one of the men allegedly beat the dog outside a Hazel Terrace home, authorities said.
Christopher Donahue, 23, and Gerald Moyher, 43, both of 7 Hazel Terrace in Woodbridge were both arrested by police outside their home. Donahue was charged with cruelty to animals. Moyher was charged with failure to vaccinate and license a pet and interfering with a police officer.
Although the exact amounts of their bonds were not available, police said that Donahue and Moyher are scheduled to appear at Superior Court in New Haven on June 23 at 10 a.m.
According to Animal Control Officer Judy Rettig, Sgt. Edward Thomas was passing by the Hazel Terrace home on patrol when he saw Donahue allegedly pick up the dog and slam it to the ground. Thomas stopped his cruiser and intervened in the situation, Rettig said.
Rettig said that Donahue claimed he was attempting to train the dog.
Soon after, the dog's owner - Moyher, a relative of Donahue's - came home and became involved in the situation, Rettig said.
Rettig commended the officer's poise during the ordeal, even as the situation "got out of hand" when Moyher arrived on the scene.
"He [Thomas] remained calm and considerate and polite," Rettig said, "He's really a great guy."
Fund for Animals Urban Wildlife Director Laura Simon said that ironically she too happened by the situation Friday as police intervened and was appalled by what she saw on behalf of the accused.
"It's shocking to think there are people out there who do things like this," Simon said.
The dog, a red Labrador with blue eyes named Frankie, was removed from the home by Animal Control and taken to the Orange Veterinary Center, Rettig said. The veterinarian who examined Frankie found that the dog's hip, which was broken in February when Frankie was hit by a car, remained dislodged, Rettig said.
Rettig said that she hopes the court will prevent the dog from returning to the Hazel Terrace home so she can get it the medical attention it needs and place it into a safe home. Frankie needs his injured hip repaired, some shots and to be neutered, Rettig said.
"It will be up to the judge [what happens to the dog]," Rettig said.
But Rettig is really hoping for an animal-friendly judge at Superior Court in New Haven on June 25, for Frankie's sake.
"It's a wonderful loving dog," Rettig said, "It really kills me to think that the dog could go back there [to that home]."
Simon too said she hopes that Woodbridge Animal Control will not allow the dog to return to the apparently abusive home and instead place it somewhere where it will be loved and nurtured.
"It's really a lovely dog," Simon said, who added that she has seen the dog on prior occasions and it appeared to be of a friendly, nice demeanor. Neighborhood MapFor more information about the Interactive Animal Cruelty Maps, see the map notes.
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