Derby dog pound under investigation

DERBY, Conn. (WTNH) -- A criminal investigation is now underway into the Derby dog pound. It comes after animals there were allegedly found neglected and the city's animal control officer abruptly quit .

After the animal control officer Joe Klapcik abruptly quit his post for a totally unrelated reason the town called in the Oxford animal control officer to run things for a while, and it is that animal control officer who brought a pit bull and her concerns to the Ansonia Animal Hospital.

"What kind of condition was he in," asked News 8's Tina Detelj.

"He was licking at his paws with the...and had sores on his tail," said Dr. T.C. Nanavati, veterinarian, "hair missing and...on the side too."

In addition to the open sores Dr. Nanavati also noticed the dog was skinnier than he thought it should be for an animal kept in a confined space for a couple of months, instead of getting to run around to stay lean.

"You can see the ribs," said Dr. Nanavati. "That means I don't know if he was eating enough or not enough eating."

Whether or not that constitutes neglect is the question. Police are investigating what went on at the Derby Dog Pound with the help of the State Department of Agriculture's animal control division.

No one answered at the address listed for former animal control officer Klapcik, who the Derby police chief says has never been cited by the state.

"A couple of months, then he should notice that skin, the fur is missing," said Dr. Nanavati. "You should notice if only for a couple of days then maybe you can, but still when you pick up the dog you can see what condition it is."

While News 8 could not get inside the pound to get a look at the conditions there, it was the condition of one of the dogs which sparked the investigation.