Shelton Man Charged With Abuse to ‘Sweetheart of a Dog’

A Shelton man was arrested for cruelty to animals on July 1 after the city’s animal control department responded to numerous calls about a beagle seen limping about the neighborhood.

“We got a call about a roaming dog, and when we called back the dog was already gone. Then the next day we got another call from another person about this same dog,” Animal Control Officer Sheryl Taylor said. “It was a beagle, and everyone was saying she had an injured foot or an injured leg or something.”

When Taylor and other volunteers were finally able to track down the dog, it was clear she was in pain so they took her to a vet immediately.

“She had a toenail that was several inches long. She could barely walk on that foot,” Taylor said of the beagle. “They did x-rays, and the other toenails were curled underneath. Her ears were so infected—it was disgusting—they were bleeding as they were being cleaned out at the vet’s office.”

After treating the dog, Taylor found out who the owner was and reported him to the police.

Paulino Sanches, 57, of Rayo Drive was subsequently issued a misdemeanor summons for cruelty to animals, according to Lt. Robert Kozlowsky. He was given a promise to appear at State Superior Court in Derby on July 11.

Sanches pled not guilty to the charges at this first court appearance and is scheduled to return to court at 10 a.m. on August 9. In the meantime, his dog is being cared for at the Shelton Animal Shelter.

“I don’t want this dog returned to that home. [Sanches’s] wife called me a few days ago asking when she could pick up the dog, but she can’t because the case isn’t settled,” Taylor said.

Taylor said that, judging by the fact that Sanches has a steady place of residence and a family, this is a case of pure neglect.

“There’s more than one person in the house. Any one of them could have been looking after this dog but they weren’t. It is clear these injuries didn't happen overnight.”

In addition, the beagle requires ongoing medical supervision because of the abuse. “If they [the Sanches's] couldn’t bother to take care of her then, why would they start now and want to deal with expensive vet bills now?” Taylor said.

She is hoping the dog will be officially signed over to the , where it can be put up for adoption to a loving home.

"She's a sweetheart of a dog, really such a sweet little beagle," Taylor gushed. "She's a living thing with feelings, this is a serious crime. When I show people pictures, they are shocked."

Taylor also said that, unfortunately, animal abuse incidents are severely under-reported -- both to the police and in the media.

"You barely ever hear about when someone is arrested for hurting a dog. The papers never report anything," she said. Taylor hopes that this case can serve as an example for the community, making them more aware and more willing to speak up to police.

If you suspect an animal is being abused, please call Animal Control Officer Sheryl Taylor's at 203-924-2501 or the at 203-924-1544.