Branford Man Arrested for Killing His Dog

A 22-year-old Branford man was arrested today for allegedly choking his pit bull-boxer mix to death and discarding the dog in a plastic bag in the woods.

Branford police officers, along with a state animal control officer, arrested Alex Wullaert, of 57 East Main Street.

Wullaert reportedly killed the dog in January but it was not discovered until March 11 when a Madison resident came upon the carcas in the woods by a lake in that town, according to police. State Animal Control Officer Todd Curry, who works for the State of Connecticut Department of Agriculture, said the investigation began that day when the resident reported the finding to Madison Police.

Madison Police Officer Kimberly Lauria, who investigated the incident, was able to determine that Wullaert was the owner of the deceased animal due to an identifiable micro-chip that was recovered during a necropsy, police said.

“Through her further diligent investigation, Officer Lauria was able to contact and later interview Wullaert, who confessed that he choked the animal at his Branford home after it urinated on this leg and bit him,” Curry said.

“The local officer did an excellent job,” he added.

Wullaert was charged with cruelty to animals and littering, and was released on a written promise to appear in New Haven Superior Court on May 15.