Southington House-Sitter Left Mothball-Laced Treat For Dog: Cops

SOUTHINGTON, CT — A house-sitter in Southington is accused of trying to feed a neighbor's dog a mothball disguised as a treat, police said.

The homes are located on Whitlock Avenue, police said.

Sandra Sullivan, 57, was charged with criminal attempt to commit cruelty to animals, according to a police report.

Police said the case dates back to Dec. 23. According to a report, a resident told authorities that he went to check on his barking dog and noticed a "blonde haired white female," dressed in all-black clothing, walking along his fence line on the neighbor's side of the fence.

The resident recognized the woman as a house-sitter who was staying at a neighboring home and said she he saw her place a small round item on a nearby tree stump. As the man was returning into his house, he noticed a similar object on his back stairs, according to a report.

The man described the item as "a cream filled, chocolate-covered candy," and on closer examination, he noticed a strong and distinct odor coming from the item, "consistent with a urinal deodorizer block or a mothball," according to a. report.

The man then discovered is was indeed a mothball — hidden inside the treat, according to a report.

The man told police he was concerned the woman was attempting to feed the item to his dog, the report indicates.

When interviewed by police, the woman, identified as Sullivan, initially denied any knowledge off the mothball-laced treat, but later admitted the item was a cream filled chocolate covered candy that she opened, then hid a mothball inside, according top the report.

According to the report, Sullivan expressed frustration over the neighbor’s dog "barking at all hours" and decided to make a "treat" for the dog to see if the dog would "stop barking." She told police, according tp the report, that her intent was not to hurt the dog, but get it to "to stop barking excessively."

A warrant was requested for Sullivan's arrest and secured on Jan. 25, police said. She then surrendered and is due in court on Feb. 10, police said.