Southington Woman Charged With Selling Seriously Ill Puppy

SOUTHINGTON, CT — A Southington woman has been charged with crimes for allegedly selling a seriously ill dog that eventually had to be be euthanized, police said.

Sherri Privitera, 50, of Southington surrendered at Southington police headquarters on an outstanding warrant for her arrest the day after Christmas, police said.

The warrant, charges her with failure to comply with dog ownership requirements and a importing a dog/cat without a health certificate.

Privitera allegedly sold a Chihuahua that she bred to another person and, after the sale, it was discovered that the puppy had a potentially fatal congenital defect, police said. Ultimately the puppy had to be euthanized, police said.

Two separate veterinarians examined the puppy prior to it being put down and believed the puppy to be approximately five weeks old, less than the eight weeks of age necessary to be sold, police said.

During the course of the investigation it was discovered that the dogs at Privitera’s residence were not
licensed, police said.

Privitera is scheduled to appear in Bristol Superior Court on Jan. 8, police said.

Photo Credit: SPD