Police and animal rights activists say dog ​​abandonment is becoming a growing problem in Connecticut – NBC Connecticut

Animal rights activists say there is a worrying trend across the state of increasing abandonment of dogs and other animals.

Last weekend, a dog was found on the side of the road in Wolcott carrying only a container of food. Abandoned dogs have also been found in Naugatuck, Meriden and Stamford, animal rights activists from Desmond’s Army reported.

In April alone, Connecticut saw several cases of dog abandonment. In Norwalk, a driver was filmed abandoning a pit bull in a locked cage. In Hartford, a dog had to be euthanized after she was found abandoned with a serious illness. In Wolcott, a dog named Mya was found on the side of the road after giving birth. In South Windsor, a dog named Kobe was found tied to a tree by his collar.

“This is a common occurrence,” said Kaley Curtis, officer with South Windsor Police Community Services. “Every day I get reports of dogs being intentionally tied to posts, fences and guardrails. Unfortunately, this is not going to stop anytime soon.”

Curtis said the Tyler Regional Animal Care Shelter is mostly filled with abandoned dogs from the area.

“The majority of all the other dogs we have here right now are dogs that were picked up straying. It goes hand in hand – if no one is looking for them and claiming them as their own, you have to assume there’s a reason they were intentionally left somewhere,” Curtis said.

According to experts, several factors contribute to this problem.

“Half of our households in the state of Connecticut have a dog or cat. Many of these pet owners do not have the means to provide daily care, food, water and shelter. Others cannot afford or do not have the financial means to pay for veterinary care for common medical problems,” said James Bias, executive director of the Connecticut Humane Society.

With many animal shelters in the state at capacity, this does not help solve the problem.

“We’re finding that shelters aren’t adopting out as many animals as they did during the pandemic. They’re also keeping animals longer to treat medical and behavioral issues. While that’s good for the animals, it means kennels and cages are full most of the time,” Bias said.

Bias said animal shelters should be a last resort. He recommends that people who are having problems with their pets should try to find them a new home either through social media or their network of family friends, or contact their local animal control officer.

“Contact your local animal control agency, contact your local animal shelter, but only use the shelters as a last resort,” Bias said. “Contact your friends, just tell them whether it’s a temporary placement or a long-term placement, and if you find that’s not possible or not successful, contact the Connecticut Humane Society.”

“If you are caught abandoning an animal, you are committing a crime in the state of Connecticut. You may face charges, criminal charges. So be aware that this is not an option,” he added. “Abandonment is not an option.”