Ex-Wallingford Animal Control Officer Accused Of Mistreating Animals At Shelter: Report

WALLINGFORD, CT — A former Wallingford Animal Control officer accused of abusing and mistreating animals at the shelter resigned after being placed on administrative leave earlier this year, according to officials.

NBC Connecticut reported the former employee, Casey Prior, was placed on administrative leave following an investigation that started in March.

Video showed Prior hitting a dog with her fist in a “hammer strike” after the dog jumped several times in a play yard, according to NBC Connecticut.

NBC also reported that other allegations included Prior kicking a cat that swatted at her feet and breaking shelter policy by dragging a dog by the leash into the kennel area twice.

The Wallingford Animal Control issued the following statement regarding the report:

At Wallingford Animal Control, our mission has always been rooted in compassion, respect, and the highest standards of care for every animal that comes into our shelter - both domestic and wild. We are devastated and deeply disturbed by the mistreatment that recently came to light involving a former employee. The behavior captured in the reviewed footage is not only inexcusable, it is entirely contrary to everything we stand for.

Let us be unequivocally clear: Wallingford Animal Control does not and will never condone the use of fear, dominance, force, or physical abuse in the handling of animals. These methods are not acceptable under any circumstance, and they do not reflect our values, our training, or our expectations for conduct.

The moment we discovered the abuse, originally during a review of footage on March 14th, we took immediate action. The employee was placed on administrative leave that same day, and a full internal investigation began. Upon reviewing the previous five months of footage, multiple additional incidents of physical abuse and neglect were discovered. The employee resigned prior to formal termination when confronted with the overwhelming evidence.

We are heartbroken that any animal in our care was subjected to mistreatment, and we share in the public’s outrage. These actions are in no way representative of our team, our ethics, or our commitment to animal welfare.

To our community: please know that the safety and well-being of the animals in our care and in our town remain our top priority. We treat each animal as if they were our own; providing comfort, high quality nourishment, above and beyond veterinary care, enrichment, and as low-stress an environment as we can possibly achieve. We are committed to learning, growing, and improving every single day. This situation does not define us. It strengthens our resolve to do better and to ensure this never happens again.

Thank you for your continued trust and support.

– Wallingford Animal Control

Read the full report at NBC Connecticut here.