SOUTHINGTON, Conn — A Bristol woman is facing animal cruelty charges after a friend of hers allegedly shot a family member's dog and failed to tell her family or call emergency services for help after it happened. An arrest warrant is out for a Waterbury man who allegedly shot the dog.
Southington police were called to a home on Aug. 17 after a dog owner found her 7-year-old pitbull dead in her home with a gunshot wound.
The investigation revealed that a family member, Karenlynne Gatling, 24, of Bristol, was at the home when the dog was shot.
Gatling had stayed the night at the home and was still there after the residents left for the day. When she was leaving, the dog went outside through a dog door and started barking, according to police.
Maurice McElrath, 43, of Waterbury, was outside to pick up Gatling. He told Gatling when she got outside, "I think I shot your dog," Gatling told investigators.
She allegedly went back inside and got a washcloth to apply pressure to the dog's wound, before deciding to leave, police said.
The dog owner came back a few hours later to find blood on the back deck, in the house, and in her bedroom, where she found her dog, police said.
A necropsy concluded that the dog's cause of death was from a gunshot wound, police said.
Investigators determined that Gatling knew the dog was shot and needed medical treatment, but did not contact the owner or call emergency services for help.
Gatling was arrested Thursday and was charged with cruelty to animals. She was released on a $2,500 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on Dec. 14.
McElrath did not provide a statement to investigators, police said.
An arrest warrant with firearms and cruelty to animal charges is out for McElrath. As he is in jail, police plan to arrest McElrath in connection to the dog's death during his next court appearance, police said.
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