CT officials, animal rights activists looking for help to find out what happened to puppy found shot to death in milk crate

Law enforcement officials and animal rights activists are asking for the public’s help in finding out what happened to a puppy found shot to death in a milk crate in New Haven, police said.

The puppy, now known by the name “Justice,” was found near Poplar Street in the Fair Haven neighborhood on the morning of July 8 after a concerned resident called police to report that they had found a dead dog in a milk crate, according to the New Haven Police Department.

Police and animal control officers were called to the scene. The puppy was brought to a local veterinary hospital, where a veterinarian determined that the puppy did have a gunshot wound. A full examination was scheduled to find out more about what happened to the dog, police said.

The animal advocacy group Desmond’s Army is offering a $2,000 reward for any information that may lead to the arrest of the person responsible for Justice’s death, police said.

Cpt. Rose Dell, a spokesperson for New Haven police, said the animal control department in New Haven is seeing an increase in hurt, abandoned and neglected animals in the city. Many of the animals, the department said, are in desperate need of medical care.

Police and animal control officers are using anyone with information that may help the investigation to contact Sgt. Macuirzynski with the New Haven Police Department’s Shooting Task Force at 475-224-0143. Anyone who is interested in donating to help the animals is asked to contact Dell at rdell@newhavenct.gov.