Vernon 'Shelter' Accused of Selling Sick Dog Being Investigated

VERNON, CT — A Vernon "shelter" accused of selling a seriously ill dog to a Manchester woman is now being investigated by state and local authorities for operating a non-compliant kennel, authorities said Thursday.

And the two had been warned about a year before the latest incident, according to municipal documents.

Authorities said the Manchester woman said she had to put the dog down because it has distemper, a lethal and contagious viral disease. According to authorities, she claimed to have bought the dog from a "shelter" called "Freedom Paws" on Scott Drive in Vernon.

According to a complaint filed with the state Department of Agriculture, the woman said she became attached to the dog, even though something seemed wrong. She accused shelter staffers of telling her a visit to a local veterinarian was not necessary.

She went anyway and the dog was diagnosed with distemper, according to a complaint.

Staffers from the Vernon Animal Control Department followed that up with a complaint of their own.

It's now a two-phased investigation, Vernon Town Administrator Michael Purcaro said.

The state is pursuing action against the couple that could result in a $2,000 fine, he said.

“Based on the recently reported regulatory actions taken by the State Department of Agriculture, the town is looking into this matter from a local zoning, public health, and animal control enforcement standpoint," he said. "We take all animal care and treatment complaints very seriously.”

Documents obtained through a Freedom of Information request show that the the Scott Drive shelter was issued a notice of violation on Aug. 29, 2016 that called for "voluntary compliance" after 17 dogs were discovered on the property in an area not zoned for kennels.

Just five of them were licensed, according to documents.

Photo Credit: Google Docs