UPDATE: Branford Man Cited By Police In Fatal Small Dog Hit-&-Run

BRANFORD, CT —

Update: On Aug. 21, Jean Michel Wasterlain, 68, of Branford, was charged with failure to report death/injury to a dog.

Original story:

On the afternoon of Aug. 6, a four-year-old fawn pug dog was hit by a car and killed on South Montowese Street, according to the Dan Cosgrove Animal Shelter. The driver who struck and killed the dog "did not stop."

According to the DCAS post, a backyard gate was left open by accident and that's how the dog got out.

When the incident happened, witnesses described the vehicle as a dark green or dark-colored Porsche Cayenne, which was likely headed in the direction of The Elks or Lenny's Restaurant, officials said.

Now, the Shelter has reported Branford Police Department "may have found the person responsible."

And Branford police confirmed this following a Patch request for information.

"Branford Police have identified the vehicle and suspect involved," Branford police Lt. Corriane Carangelo said. "The case is active at this time."

Meanwhile, the animal shelter posted to Facebook that the tragedy is also an opportunity to educate folks on a relevant state law.

"Many people do not know this. There is a law in our state that you must stop, render assistance, and report if you hit a dog with your vehicle. (We believe it should be all animals, but anyway...)"

The law reads that an operator (driver) must report an injury to a dog.

"Any person who has knowledge of causing, by the operation of a motor vehicle, injury or death to a dog shall at once stop and render such assistance as may be possible, shall immediately report such injury or death to such dog's owner or such owner's representative and shall give his name, address and operator's license and registration numbers to such owner or representative or any witness or peace officer. If unable to ascertain and locate such owner or representative, such operator shall, at once, report the injury or death to a police officer, constable, state police officer or inspector of motor vehicles, to whom he shall give the location of such accident and a description of the dog. Violation of any provision of this section shall be an infraction. No operator shall be convicted under the provisions of subdivision (3) of subsection (b) of section 14-224 when such operator has caused injury or death to a dog."