‘Skin and bones:’ Shepherd left tied to side of Route 8 in Beacon Falls

BEACON FALLS, Conn. (WTNH) — A shepherd was abandoned on the side of Route 8 over the weekend, according to Woodbridge Regional Animal Control officials.

Officer Jess Moffo with Woodbridge Regional Animal Control said that the dog was left on Sunday night, is not even a year old and is at least 15 pounds underweight.

Moffo said this was their second animal cruelty case in one weekend, after leaders seized at least 68 animals from a hoarding situation.

The young male shepherd was tied up to the side of the highway with a prong collar and no food or water.

Officials said he was “skin and bones.”

Now, Woodbridge Animal Control is receiving dozens of boxes and bags of food as donations

“Words can’t describe the feeling,” Moffo said. “We’ve been at this since Saturday, at 5am on Saturday, and we haven’t stopped.”

News 8 found folks on Monday morning, flooding the facility with donations.

“It’s just a sad reflection of where we are in society right now,” Bryan Molinelli of Waterbury said. “Animals are not really prioritized the way they should be.”

“It makes you want to cry because it’s so sad, the dogs, the cats,” Mike Costello of Fairfield said. “When we saw [the neglected animals] on the TV, we couldn’t even tell what they were.”

Moffo said the matted animals are now groomed and on the mend.

“They’re all comfortable, they’re safe, they’re all getting the treatment and the care they need,” Moffo said.

Moffo said that the dog is not available for adoption yet, but a state trooper could be a taker.

“We do have a pending adoption for, actually, the trooper that found [the dog],” Moffo said.

Anyone with information on who is responsible for the dog’s care and/or abandonment is asked to contact Woodbridge Regional Animal Control at (203) 389-5991. Tips can remain anonymous.

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