Greenwich Dog Trainer Gets DUI After Crash; Had 3 Dogs In Car: Police

FAIRFIELD, CT — An area dog trainer was charged this week after striking a vehicle while driving under the influence with three canines in tow, according to police.

The incident occurred 3:15 p.m. Tuesday at Exit 24 of Interstate 95 in Fairfield, police said. Lucy Tsaparis-Skjelmose, an Orange resident with a business in Greenwich, had been traveling south when she hit a stopped vehicle at the base of the ramp, according to police. Tsaparis-Skjelmose left the scene, but an officer who had witnessed the incident pulled her over, police said.

Tsaparis-Skjelmose, 61, was arrested after police noticed she smelled like alcohol and was slurring her speech, authorities said, noting she performed poorly on field sobriety tests.

Tsaparis-Skjelmose had three dogs in her vehicle at the time of the crash, two of which were not hers, according to police.

“Fairfield Animal Control responded to the scene and transported ... the dogs to the animal shelter for safekeeping,” police said. “The dogs did not appear to (be in) any distress from the accident. The dogs were released later that evening to their owners.”

According to records from LinkedIn, LexisNexis and the Connecticut Judicial Branch, Tsaparis-Skjelmose is also known as Loukia Tsapari and Loukia Tsapari-Skjelmose. She is identified on LinkedIn as the owner of Wholistic Pet Services, a dog training and boarding business in Greenwich.

Tsaparis-Skjelmose was charged with driving under the influence, evading responsibility and following too closely resulting in an accident, Fairfield police said. She was issued a misdemeanor summons and turned over to Greenwich authorities for an outstanding warrant, according to law enforcement.

According to Greenwich police Capt. Mark Zuccerella, Tsaparis-Skjelmose’s warrant was for charges of driving under the influence and other vehicle-related offenses stemming from an incident in September.