Former Oxford Animal Control Officer Avoids Jail Time in Dog Theft Case: Report

OXFORD, CT — Oxford's former assistant animal control officer, Cori Wlasuk, avoided jail time for stealing two dogs from animal shelters and having them live with her in Southbury, the Republican-American reports.

Wlasuk, of Bagley Road, received accelerated rehabilitation and a 1 year-probation and must pay $1,500 to the victim and fines to the town and state. She is also banned from working in animal control.

She was charged in April by Troop A in Southbury.

At the time of her arrest, State Police said Wlasuk allegedly stole two pure breed Newfoundland puppies and forged official state documents to receive free veterinary care for the dogs.

The incidents are alleged to have occurred in 2011 and 2014, when Wlasuk is accused stealing the dogs and keeping them at her Southbury home for herself.

In the first case, she is accused of taking a black Newfie that had been turned into the pound, forging a friend's name to adopt the dog, and again forging the same friend's name to obtain a free state sterilization voucher. She is alleged to have then illegally registered the dog as living at the shelter, which entitled it to veterinary care paid for by the town.

State police said that in 2014, after a brown Newfie was turned into the shelter, she again took the dog home instead of impounding the animal. She subsequently told the owner that she wanted to buy the dog privately and paid them cash for the animal, state police said. Again, she is accused of forging documents to illegally obtain free spaying and veterinary care.

A local resident complained to town officials about what allegedly was going on, and Trooper Vicki Donohoe of the Oxford Resident State Troopers' office, which is a division of the Connecticut State Police, launched an investigation into Wlasuk's activities.

In relation to the alleged 2011 and 2014 incidents, Wlasuk turned herself in to state police custody on charges of two counts of Larceny 3rd and five counts of Forgery 2nd. She was released after posting a $5,000 non-surety bond and is scheduled to appear in Derby Superior Court on May 5.

For more details on what occurred in court, please read the full Rep-Am report here.

Photo: Cori Wlasuk. Photo credit: Connecticut State Police