Branford Man Arrested for Abandoning Pit Bull Without Food or Water: Police

EAST HAVEN, CT — A Branford man accused of abandoning his dog at a dumpster with no food and water has been arrested following a nearly two-moth investigation, East Haven police announced Friday.

Police say they had received a report of an abandoned Pit bull, and found the dog near a dumpster at the Breezewood Condominiums at 130 Coe Ave. in an unsecured crate with no food, water or protection from the elements. After posting pictures of the dog to Facebook, police learned that the dog's name was Menace and belong to Michael Giano of Branford.

Giano, 28, was contacted by police who say he admitted to leaving the dog at the dumpster because he was aggressive, even towards himself. Menace is still at the East Haven Animal Shelter, and is undergoing intensive training to help socialize him, in hopes that he will one day find his forever home.

Police also added that if Giano would have turned Menace in at the police department or animal shelter, they would have accepted him immediately with no questions asked.

Police later applied for an arrest warrant and charged Giano with cruelty to animals, failure to vaccinate and failure to comply with ownership requirements. Police say officers served the warrant while Giano was in court for unrelated charges.

He's due in court next on March 17.

Image via the East Haven Animal Shelter.