East Haven Man’s Dog Found Allegedly Abandoned in Supply Ponds

Mark Gentile, 47, of East Haven was at 1:35 p.m. on Saturday for cruelty to animals, failure to vaccinate, failure to license dog and allowing dog to roam.

Branford Animal Control Officer and Director Laura Selvaggio-Burban reported that Gentile’s dog, Bingo The Man, a 1- to 2-year-old jack russell terrier, was found by a concerned citizen roaming in the on Friday, June 24.

Earlier that same day, Gentile had come to the shelter hoping to release the dog as he could no longer care for it. Selvaggio-Burban said the shelter, which has a capacity of 17 dogs, was full and had been the entire month of June. Gentile was offered to be wait-listed but refused and stated he would find other arrangements for the dog. About 10-15 people looking to drop off dogs, said Selvaggio-Burban, were wait-listed this June due to space issues.

Burban said that two weeks before Gentile had brought his dog down to the shelter to be adopted, Bingo The Man was found roaming on Chestnut Street in Branford by an animal control officer. The dog was at the shelter two days before Gentile came to claim him, said Selvaggio-Burban. Because he had signed the dog out and the animal was microchipped, Selvaggio-Burban said they were able to contact Gentile after the dog was found at the Supply Ponds.

Though his name was not legible on the sign-out papers, said Selvaggio-Burban, the staff did some investigating and were able to find Gentile at his business in a nearby town. He was arrested for allowing the dog to roam and Selvaggio-Burban said she suspected his intentions were to abandon the dog at the Supply Ponds.

Burban said that Gentile claimed he was walking in the Supply Ponds and the dog had gotten loose and he had to go to work so he left the dog there.

Because the Animal Shelter had documentation of Gentile they were able to make an arrest for the alleged crime, but Selvaggio-Burban said that most similar cases are left unsolved. About 15 dogs since July 2010, she said, have been found abandoned at the Supply Ponds, Walmart and the TA Truck Stop.

Selvaggio-Burban said the rate of animal abandonment is on the rise because of the economy and more people's homes falling into foreclosure. However, she was uncertain if financial burden was a factor in the case of Gentile wanting to give away Bingo The Man.

Selvaggio-Burban said of those in a financial bind, it’s important to think ahead. “No one is destitute overnight. People are irresponsible and selfish. Their animals don’t have a voice in this. The dog needs to have a place to go.”

Gentile is due in court on July 6 and Bingo The Man currently resides at the shelter; he is not available for adoption at the moment.