Abandoned Chihuahua May Not Be Euthanized, Waterford Animal Control Officer Says

After Waterford-East Lyme Animal Control Officer Robert Yuchniuk found a blind, elderly Chihuahua outside the shelter, he wrote a passionate statement on Facebook seeking info on the owner and sharing what it means to be a good pet owner.

“Pets are a part of your family, not just when they are young and cute, but when they are old and lame too,” he wrote.

Yuchniuk provided an update on the dog after receiving emails and messages. He addressed questions and provided clarifications, explaining that the dog has to stay at the shelter for an eight-day holding period.

“And sadly her aggression will prevent her from being a candidate for adoption or foster due to liabilities to the town,” he replied to someone on Facebook who asked about adoption on Friday, August 1. “Regardless of breed, Pit Bull or Chihuahua, dogs that show aggression to humans are not considered suitable for adoption.”

But later that night, he updated followers again after receiving questions from the public and said a decision to euthanize the Chihuahua has not been made yet.

“If after eight days, the dog has relaxed and is no longer trying to bite as soon as it is touched, then perhaps the dog can be adopted out if someone wanted to take on the case,” Yuchniuk said.

If not, then the dog will be humanely euthanized — no exceptions, he said.

“There are no ‘waivers’ one can sign, there are no exceptions made, whether Pit Bull or scared Chihuahua, the liability to the town is the same,” he explained. “If I adopt the aggressive dog out and it bites someone, then your lawyer sues the town and the town pays you $15,000 to shut up and go away as opposed to 100,000 to fight the matter in court. That’s just the way it is.”

Adding to the complexity of the case is that the Chihuahua is in pain, Yuchniuk said.

“She can hardly walk, she is blind, incontinent and obviously in pain,” he said. “So some of you are making comments based not on logic, but on emotion which is very high in this case. As long as she is showing any type of aggression, no one from the public can come in and feed her chicken, hold her in their lap, sit with her or talk to her in a female voice. Again because of liability.”

Fundraising Not Necessary

“Effective immediately I am asking everyone not to send one cent to the town, the animal shelter or the vet office for this dog,” he said. “The town of Waterford will cover all the costs incurred. No one is to donate anything for this dog.”

To Those Who Wanted to Free the Dog

“If anyone believes they should break into the animal shelter and liberate this dog, know that is considered burglary and larceny from a municipal entity — two felonies,” Yuchniuk wrote on Facebook. “I have instructed the Waterford Police patrol division to make extra patrols of the animal shelter and we will arrest anyone breaking into the shelter.”

One Last Message

Yuchniuk thanked all those who sent positive comments.

“Once again, I would like to thank all the people who sent positive comments, thoughts and prayers, all the people who understand what animal control officers have to deal with, and the people who understand that we do what we do because we love animals,” he said.