Fairfield Police Making Changes After Dog Mistakenly Euthanized

FAIRFIELD, CT — Fairfield officials are making changes to police procedures after a family pet was mistaken for a baby coyote last month and euthanized, an incident that resulted in a part-time animal control officer being placed on leave.

First Selectwoman Brenda Kupchick and the Fairfield Police Department are in the process of drafting new policies in the wake of the incident, Kupchick said Saturday in her weekly email to residents.

In the interim, senior police officers will accompany animal control officers who are sent out on calls involving wildlife, and animal control staff will undergo additional training.

The incident occurred the evening of Nov. 11, when police and animal control officers responded to a report of a distressed baby coyote on a porch on Lawrence Road, law enforcement said at the time. When state officials told local authorities there were no rehabilitation facilities equipped to help, the animal — who police said appeared to be suffering from exposure — was taken to the town animal shelter.

Once there, it was euthanized with a service weapon, in accordance with department policy for severely ill or injured animals for whom there is no other humane recourse. Officials later learned the animal they thought to be a coyote was actually a 13-year-old Shiba Inu named Kitsu that weighed 15 pounds.

In her Saturday update, Kupchick said she had heard from many residents who were upset by the circumstances of Kitsu’s death.

“I vowed to the family who lost their dog that I will do everything in my power to ensure this never happens again,” Kupchick said.

Kupchick has been in contact with animal welfare groups and animal control officers from other towns, she said.

Detectives began an investigation after Kitsu died, and a part-time animal control officer was placed on administrative leave pending the investigation's results.