Greenwich Animal Control Seeks Info in Cruelty Investigation: Sweet “Linus” Found Malnourished, with Skin Conditions

Last Friday Greenwich Police responded to calls about a stray dog in the area of Deepwoods Lane near the Stamford border. Calls came in around midnight from residents who spotted the stray dog, and according to ACO Carolyn Smith who picked up the effort the following morning, police had spotted him, emaciated, but the dog ran into the woods.

Smith said the following morning when she arrived to work at 7:30am she got a call from dispatch about a “found dog” in Old Greenwich who had appeared on someone’s porch in Old Greenwich.

Smith said “Linus” came to her with his tail wagging when she offered him a treat. Before long she said the dog leaned against her and put his head in her lap.

She calls the dog Linus because in a short time she observed that he became attached to his blanket and likes to drag it outside to play.

Good news, but this is not the end.

ACO Smith and ACO Suzanne Ondreicka are seeking information from the public leading to the person or people who owned Linus and let him become malnourished and suffer from untreated skin conditions (his tail has almost no hair).

Ondreicka said the shelter is at capacity with dogs, cats and kittens who need attention as well as medical care, including trips to the veterinarian and urgent care. There are only two ACOs plus a kennel manager, and they also respond to all manner of wildlife calls.

In fact, Linus, who Smith said self-soothes with his blanket and a favorite toy that he sucks on as he falls asleep, has had visits to VEG in Cos Cob.

Ondreicka said his care is expensive and the result of cruelty.

“Dogs and animals are work. You have to put the work in. If you’re having a problem with behavior, there are places to seek help,” she said. “The more problems you ignore, they worse they become – whether you get an animal from a shelter or a breeder.”

“This poor dog – somebody starved it,” she continued, adding Linus won’t be available for adoption until he recovers from his medical issues and puts on weight. Ondreicka said his healthy weight is about 20 lbs more than today.

If anyone has information about who was responsible for “Linus,” they are asked to call Animal Control at (203) 622-8299.

ACO Ondreicka said not only is Greenwich Animal Control full to capacity, but shelters across the state are experiencing a high volume of abandonment of pets.

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On another note, Gandolf, about six or seven years old, is a very chill cat available for adoption from Greenwich Animal Control.

ACOs Ondreicka and Smith say Gandolf is “an old soul.”

He is relaxed, playful, and affectionate. Make an appointment to meet Gandolf.